Montana bear researcher mauled by grizzly, walked 2 miles with fractured skull

quote:

---

A woman working her “dream job” as a bear researcher walked two miles with a fractured skull after being mauled by a grizzly last Thursday in northwestern Montana

---

quote:

---

Amber Kornak, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seasonal field assistant, is recovering after suffering two skull fractures and severe cuts to her head, neck and back. The 28-year-old was working alone near a stream in the Cabinet Mountains when a bear attacked her from behind

---

quote:

---

Agency spokeswoman Jennifer Strickland said Kornak was able to grab her Mace-like bear spray while being mauled and blasted the grizzly, ending the attack. Kornak inadvertently sprayed herself in the process

---

quote:

---

Kornak, bleeding from her injuries and suffering fractured skull, managed to walk two miles to her work vehicle and drove to find help. Hemer said the researcher went through four hours of surgery, where she had bone fragments removed.

---

quote:

---

“Metal plates and screws were placed on her skull and drains were placed in her brain to relieve brain swelling and drain fluid. The lacerations to her scalp, neck, and back were also debrided,”

---

quote:

---

The attack came only a few days after Kornak began her dream job. Officials believe the researcher didn’t hear the bear approach her due to noise from the nearby Poorman Creek.

---