A Grizzly Tale

Nature loving Amber Kornak had just landed her dream job. She got an internship working with grizzly bears. She loved the beasts and thrilled to the chance of working with them in the Montana woods.

Unfortunately, the love was not returned. One bear, in particular, attacked her and put her in the ICU.

The Daily Mail has the grizzly story:

A Montana woman has been attacked by a grizzly bear in the Cabinet Mountains, just months after landing her dream job studying the animals.

Amber Kornak was working alone near a stream for the US Fish and Wildlife Service on May 17 when the bear approached her from behind and mauled her. 

She was 'lucky to have survived' and suffered two skull fractures and severe lacerations to her head, neck, and back, her friend Jenna Hemer wrote on a GoFundMe set up to help cover Ms Kornak's medical costs.

The 28-year-old seasonal field assistant was able to reach her bear spray as she was attacked and stop the predator.

With the bear finally gone, Ms Kornak then hiked two miles back to her car and drover herself to find help. She was flown out to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.   

'Once arriving at the hospital, she endured four grueling hours of surgery to remove bone fragments and clean wounds to her brain,' Ms Hemer wrote.

'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 [cleaned].'

Apparently, Kornak will not be going out in the field any time soon. But, rest assured, she still loves wildlife and especially grizzly bears:

Ms Hemer said while her friend is passionate about all wildlife, it has been a longstanding dream of hers to work specifically with grizzly bears -  and while Ms Konak is staying positive, it would be a while before she'd be able to return to the mountains. 

'She's obviously passionate about all wildlife, but her dream and her primary focus was to work with grizzly bears,' Ms Hemer told Associated Press. 

'Last I spoke with her was yesterday and she's making great strides but it's going to be a long recovery.'