MISSOULA, MT – A Montana man who survived a harrowing encounter with a grizzly bear is sharing his story, recounting the life-altering experience that took place earlier this year. Rudy Norlander was assisting a father and son on a deer hunt when they inadvertently found themselves between a grizzly and its food, triggering a violent attack.
Norlander described the terrifying moment when the bear charged at him. “I raised my gun and fired, but the next thing I knew, it had me by the jaw,” he recalled. The bear’s powerful bite lifted him off the ground, and despite his cries for help, the animal clamped down, leaving him severely injured.
The attack left Norlander stranded in the wilderness for hours, suffering from significant injuries to his arms, torso, and face. “I was conscious the whole time and knew my jaw was gone,” he said. Rescuers eventually reached him, and he was airlifted to the hospital, where he spent the next five weeks undergoing multiple surgeries.
Remarkably, surgeons at the University of Utah performed their first-ever “jaw in a day” surgery on Norlander. They used bone and skin from his leg to reconstruct the lower part of his face. Norlander, maintaining his sense of humor, joked about asking for titanium fangs, saying, “I wanted to bite the bear back.”
Throughout his recovery, Norlander remained positive, believing that every experience, whether good or bad, teaches a lesson. “I was expecting to win the lottery or a sweepstakes, not get attacked by a bear,” he mused. His resilience and humor have been a source of inspiration for many.
Wildlife officials later determined that the grizzly was not a threat to others, as it was merely defending its food supply. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters.
Norlander’s story is a testament to human resilience and the will to survive, even in the face of overwhelming odds. As he continues to heal, he remains grateful for the medical team’s efforts and the support from his community.