Current:Home > InvestMontana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital. -Edge Finance Strategies
Montana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital.
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 07:47:34
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! (216)
Related
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- The Livestock Industry’s Secret Weapons: Expert Academics
- Are grocery stores open Easter 2024? See details for Costco, Kroger, Aldi, Whole Foods, more
- Biden’s big speech showed his uneasy approach to abortion, an issue bound to be key in the campaign
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Israel-Hamas conflict reaches Oscars red carpet as Hollywood stars wear red pins in support of cease-fire
- John Mulaney and Olivia Munn Are a Perfect Match in Custom Fendi at 2024 Oscars
- Ryan Gosling greets fans, Vanessa Hudgens debuts baby bump: The top Oscars red carpet moments
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Oscars 2024: Julia Fox Stuns in Nipple-Bearing Look For Elton John’s Watch Party
Ranking
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Beached sperm whale dies after beaching along Florida’s Gulf Coast
- Dozens of Indian nationals duped into joining Russia's war against Ukraine, government says
- Inside a U.S. airdrop mission to rush food into Gaza
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Why Robert Downey Jr. Looked Confused by Jimmy Kimmel's Penis Joke at the 2024 Oscars
- Robert Downey Jr. wins supporting actor and his first Oscar for ‘Oppenheimer’
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph wins best supporting actress Oscar: 'God is so good'
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Vanity Fair Oscars 2024 Party Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look as Stars Arrive
Lionel Messi does not play in Inter Miami's loss to CF Montreal. Here's the latest update.
Breaking glass ceilings: the women seizing opportunities in automotive engineering
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Baker Mayfield re-signs with Buccaneers on three-year deal
Kamilla Cardoso embarrasses South Carolina but sting will be fleeting
'Let’s make history:' Unfazed Rangers look to win back-to-back World Series titles | Nightengale's Notebook