Current:Home > MarketsMontana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital. -Infinite Edge Learning
Montana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital.
Robert Brown View
Date:2025-04-07 03:03:04
A hunter who was attacked by a grizzly bear in Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest will go home after five weeks in the hospital where he received jaw reconstruction surgery, in addition to other procedures, the hunter, his family and doctors said at a news conference.
Rudy Noorlander, 61, was tracking deer with a group of people on Sept. 8, near Yellow Mule Trail about 50 miles southwest of Bozeman, Montana, when a grizzly bear attacked him. According to the Associated Press, the grizzly bear bit off part of his jaw.
First responders arrived in a helicopter and transferred him to a nearby hospital in Bozeman, Montana. After emergency surgery, he moved to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Noorlander's daughter, Katelynn Davis, spoke for him at a University of Utah Hospital news conference. According to Davis, Noorlander was prepared with a gun and bear spray but needed more time to stop the bear from attacking.
She explained that the only thing that helped Noorlander was that he was with a group that could scare the grizzly bear away.
Recent bear attack:73-year-old woman attacked by bear near US-Canada border, officials say; park site closed
Jaw reconstruction surgery
Dr. Hillary McCrary, a surgeon at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Utah, was present for the news conference. She explained that because his lower jaw and larynx sustained several injuries in the attack, Noorlander underwent many surgeries to correct his jaw, including a reconstruction surgery.
"We took a portion of his fibula bone and some of his skin with an artery and a vein and hooked that to an artery and a vein in the neck," said Dr. McCrary." And then my partner Dr. Cannon took some of the skin's soft tissue and transplanted that to the head and neck to reconstruct his lower lip."
Dr. Mccrary commended Noorlander on his optimism through his surgeries and recovery journey, noting that Noorlander wants to fight through his recovery.
Plans for the future
Noorlander will be able to speak again; however, because of the intensive surgery and trauma to the area around his vocal folds, there is no specific timeline for when Noorlander will fully talk again, according to Dr.McCarthy.
During the news conference, Noorlander answered questions by writing on a whiteboard. Davis was present at the press conference to speak on his behalf.
"The things that give him hope and motivation to get through this is family and life," said Davis. "My job proves that most people are good, and I can't wait to get back to it and win round two."
According to Davis, Noorlander plans to return to work and where the attack happened. It was not his first encounter with a bear; he had been walking the trail years before the attack.
Davis explained that her father would like to write a book one day and jokingly admits that he would like Cole Hauser from the hit TV show "Yellowstone" to play him in a movie.
"Only by the hands of God am I here; I've had a lot of inspirations, and I felt the need to share my story with others," said Noorlander. "Believe it or not, I believe this attack answered my prayers. And, potentially, it can help someone from going through something similar."
veryGood! (124)
Related
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Louisiana-Monroe not going to 'hold any fear' vs. Arch Manning, defensive coordinator says
- 7 MLB superstars who can win their first World Series title in 2024
- Florida sheriff shames 2 more kids after school threats. Is it a good idea?
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Whoa! 'Golden Bachelorette' first impression fails, including that runaway horse
- ‘They try to keep people quiet’: An epidemic of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Letterboxd Films
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- What causes motion sickness? Here's why some people are more prone.
Ranking
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- First rioters to breach a police perimeter during Capitol siege are sentenced to prison terms
- Takeaways from AP’s report on churches starting schools in voucher states
- 9 Minnesota prison workers exposed to unknown substances have been hospitalized
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Hunter Boots are 50% off at Nordstrom Rack -- Get Trendy Styles for Under $100
- Olympian Maggie Steffens Details Family's Shock Two Months After Death of Sister-in-Law Lulu Conner
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Letterboxd Films
Recommendation
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Ohio sheriff condemned for saying people with Harris yard signs should have their addresses recorded
Jeopardy! Contestant Father Steve Jakubowski Is the Internet’s New “Hot Priest”
Attorney Demand Letter Regarding Unauthorized Use and Infringement of [QUANTUM PROSPERITY CONSORTIUM Investment Education Foundation's Brand Name]
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
Burlington pays $215K to settle a lawsuit accusing an officer of excessive force
Diddy is 'fighting for his life' amid sex trafficking charges. What does this mean for him?
Fed cuts interest rate half a point | The Excerpt