Victim of bear attack identified

A local spokesperson for the state agency investigating a bear attack that occurred in the Cabinet Mountains May 17 said Thursday that because the investigation is ongoing he could provide no information beyond what the agency released May 18.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Strickland, a spokesperson with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has identified the victim as field assistant Amber Kornak, 28, according to the Associated Press. She was working at the time of the attack on a genetic study that requires collecting grizzly hair samples.

The attack happened in the Poorman Creek area, according to the May 18 news release issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Kornak “sustained serious injuries in a surprise defensive encounter involving a bear,” states the Fish, Wildlife and Parks news release. She reported the incident about 11 a.m. May 17 and was driven by ambulance to where a helicopter could pick her up for transport to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Whether the bear was a grizzly or a black bear has not been revealed. According to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks news release, “trace evidence collected at the scene” was “submitted for analysis.”

A GoFundMe campaign for Kornak was established May 18, apparently by a friend named Jenna Hemer. Hemer’s original post states Kornak “was mauled by a bear, suffering 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,” the post continues. “Amber’s wildlife training skills kicked in, and she somehow managed to stay calm and hike two miles from the site of the attack to her work vehicle where she then drove to find help.”

The campaign had raised about $36,000 of a $50,000 goal by Thursday afternoon.

The Western News tried to contact Kornak by Facebook. She did not respond by press time Thursday.

Dillon Tabish, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson, said Thursday that the victim and her family have been “overwhelmed by requests” for interviews and are not taking any at this time.

“She’s making great strides but it’s going to be a long recovery,” Hemer told the Associated Press earlier this week.