Not many people can say they’ve come face to face with a grizzly bear, much less survived a brutal attack—but Rudy Noorlander can. A lifelong outdoorsman, Rudy spent September 8, 2023, helping a father-son hunting duo locate a deer they’d shot the day before in Montana’s Custer Gallatin National Forest. Familiar with the area, Rudy set out on the Yellow Mule Trail, unaware of the terrifying encounter that awaited him.

After spotting a grizzly bear in the distance, Rudy readied his pistol. The bear moved away, and Rudy pressed on, but soon found himself face to face with a much larger grizzly—estimated at 10-feet tall. His pistol misfired, and he had no time to deploy his bear spray. The bear attacked viciously.

In a horrifying struggle for survival, Rudy was lifted off the ground by the bear’s jaws. “Next thing I know, he had me by the jaw,” Rudy recalls. “He picked me up off the ground…and clamped down, broke my jaw.” Rudy fought back, punching the bear as it shook him. The bear bit down, breaking Rudy’s jaw and crushing his chest, before grabbing his leg. His companions, George and his son, threw rocks and sticks, finally scaring the bear off.

Rudy, severely injured and losing blood, feared for his life. Fortunately, the group had cell service and quickly called for help. Gallatin County Search and Rescue and Life Flight Network’s Bozeman helicopter were dispatched.

As Rudy’s condition worsened—losing blood, going into shock—he began to lose hope. Then he heard the Life Flight Network helicopter overhead. “It gave me hope,” Rudy said. “I knew I was going to be okay.”

Rudy was extricated by Gallatin County Search and Rescue and transported across the canyon to the awaiting Life Flight Network critical care team. They administered blood, intubated him, dressed his wounds, and provided pain relief and medical care enroute to Bozeman Deaconess Regional Medical Center. Rudy was stabilized there and later transferred to the University of Utah for extensive jaw reconstruction surgery. He had lost the entire lower portion of his jaw and suffered puncture wounds on his biceps, legs, head, neck, and chest, along with a small pneumothorax from the bear stepping on him.

After five weeks in Utah, Rudy underwent full jaw reconstruction and began the long process of relearning how to chew, swallow, smile, and speak. His recovery has been remarkable. Rudy is back enjoying the Montana mountains, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with loved ones. Ever the jokester, he describes the bear attack as “the most disgusting French kiss ever.”