In a remarkable tale of survival, Rudy Noorlander, a grandfather-of-two from Montana, is recovering from extensive jaw and dental reconstruction surgery after a horrific encounter with a nine-foot-tall grizzly bear. Despite the life-changing ordeal, Noorlander has no regrets and even jokes about the incident. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he shared his thoughts on what could have changed the outcome of the attack, reflecting on the possibility of being behind a tree or carrying a second gun. His daughter, Ashley Noorlander, laughed at the idea, joking that he would be like Rambo on his next outing.

The incident occurred on September 8 in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, as Noorlander was helping a father and son track down a shot deer. The bear appeared suddenly, leaving him no time to use his bear spray or properly fire his weapon. In a desperate attempt to defend himself, Noorlander resorted to using his hands, but the bear grabbed onto his lower face, refusing to let go. The beast's breath was described as the most rancid thing Noorlander had ever smelled. Despite the pain and terror, he managed to yell for help, causing the bear to momentarily loosen its grip, allowing him to escape.

Noorlander suffered deep scratches on his chest and bite marks on his arms and legs, but the injuries to his lower jaw were the most severe. In the aftermath of the attack, he expressed gratitude that he had been the target instead of the father and son or a group of older hikers he had encountered earlier on the trail. He believed that the bear could have killed them all. Noorlander acknowledged that the incident must have been traumatic for those who came to his aid.

Although park officials were unable to locate the bear after the attack, they speculated that it had been protecting a nearby kill. Noorlander, who has encountered numerous bears in his time in the Montana wilderness, had a light-hearted response, suggesting he and his daughter search for the bear on his snowmobile. However, his daughter dismissed the idea, stating that the bear was not the largest one he had encountered.

Despite the terrifying experience, Noorlander remains undeterred from venturing into the wilderness he loves. He recently took his first snowmobile ride since the attack and expressed eagerness to return to the outdoors. Noorlander's daughter emphasized his positivity and resilience, noting that he is the biggest fighter she knows. Noorlander himself believes that the attack was part of God's plan and has helped him grow closer to his faith. He plans to use his experience as inspiration for church devotionals and inspirational talks.

While Noorlander is thankful for the support he has received from his community and around the world, he misses simple things that he once took for granted, such as eating, speaking clearly, and brushing his teeth. The reconstruction surgery, which utilized his fibula and tissue from his forearm, has left him with sparse hair on his newly-constructed chin. Nevertheless, Noorlander remains optimistic and looks forward to the future, believing that his life has been planned out because of this incident.

With his next surgery scheduled for March, Noorlander expressed his appreciation and had a lighthearted message for others, urging them not to fight bears unless he is with them. He even joked about the possibility of a film being made about his experience and suggested potential titles like "Bears Gone Wild" or "The Worst Kiss in History.".