A wounded male grizzly caused the U.S. Forest Service to completely close the Buck Ridge Yellow Mule area after a gruesome attack took place last week.
Officials were alerted of a bear attack in Custer Gallatin National Forest after a Big Sky resident was attempting to help a group of hunters locate a wounded deer.
Rudy Noorlander had rented a number of ATVs to a group of hunters and when learning that they were having trouble locating a deer one of them shot, headed up into the forest to give them a hand.
Noorland first spotted a younger male grizzly, leading him to draw his revolver. According to statements from his daughter, another mature grizzly was in the area and attacked him after his pistol misfired.
Using only the tools God gave him, Noorlander attempted to fight off the bear with his own two hands, a battle he was, unfortunately, not quite equipped for. During the attack, the bear scratched and bit the man’s arms, chest and legs and was eventually shot right after he clamped down on Noorlander’s jaw and took it with him.
The bear scurried off into the woods and officials are unsure of its whereabouts. The group put the call in and patiently waited over two hours for the Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) to airlift him to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center.
Following surgery and a number of treatments, it was reported that his only request was to get the Bobcats game on the tv in his hospital room. It seems as though he remains in good spirits in what sounds to be a very traumatic event.
