Unbearable time at Elmendorf

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Kosto monitors the vital statistics of a brown bear that was trapped and tranquilized July 17 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Sergeant Kosto is a military conservation agent and helped the Alaska Department of Fish and Game take DNA, blood and hair samples, measurements and fit the bear with a tracking collar that will allow the bear's movements to be monitored by global positioning satellites. The bear, a female around 6 years old and weighing more than 400 pounds, had been spotted near the base golf course and a barrel trap was set by base conservation agents. After trapping and collaring the bear, agents relocated the bear to a remote part of the base and monitored it from a distance until the bear woke and moved into the woods. Sergeant Kosto is a quality assurance monitor for the 3rd Wing's flightline activity. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)