Woman attacked by bear south of Libby; GoFundMe account set up

A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends to help a woman who was mauled by a bear last week south of Libby.

Amber Kornak is a seasonal grizzly bear technician with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She was mauled by a bear May 17 while working alone remotely in the Cabinet Mountains.

Kornak suffered two skull fractures as well as severe lacerations to her head, neck, and back. As the bear attacked her from behind she was able to reach her bear spray and spray the deterrent to ward off the bear, and also spraying herself, friend Jenna Hemer noted. After the attack, Kornak hiked two miles back to her work vehicle where she then drove to find help. She was driven to an ambulance, delivered to life flight, and flown 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, Hemer said. 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 debrided, Hemer said.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 Wildlife Human Attack Response Team was dispatched to the area immediately upon notification. The species of bear that attacked Kornak has not been determined, FWP said Monday.

As of presstime, more than $17,000 had been raised toward Kornak’s medical treatment.