Man survives bear attack near Grand Teton National Park

The man guiding the hunting party, 67-year-old Wally Cash, was mauled by a female grizzly. He sustained a serious head injury and broken hand. Tom Tolkacz of Centennial, Colorado, was on the trip. He said they had been camping in a relatively remote area near Pilgrim and Kitten mountains. He spoke to 9News after returning Thursday. Tolkacz says he had spotted the female grizzly and her two cubs Wednesday morning and warned fellow hunters. But he said they couldn't be sure where she was. Around noon, they heard a single gunshot and Cash cry for help.Cash said later that he had just crossed a creek and climbed a drainage area when he suddenly came upon the bear.  "She swatted him and was able to literally bite his head and he was able to fend her off a bit," said Tolkacz. Cash said he put his hands over his head, and she bit his hand as well. "There was a fair amount of penetration through the skull," said Tolkacz.The bear left as Cash fired a shot and then came back a short time later."Wally went into a fetal position and played dead," said Tolkacz. "At that point the bear just pushed on him twice and then left."Cash was already bleeding heavily from the head but was still conscious when another member of the party arrived a few minutes later and administered first aid. The bear stayed nearby but didn't charge again. Tolkacz used a satellite phone to call a Flight for Life helicopter.Cash was flown to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Doctors put a quarter-sized titanium plate in his right temple. They also had to put pins in his left hand. He was in fair condition and expected to be released Friday.He said he doesn't blame the bear, that he knows she was just protecting her cubs.A fund has been set up to help pay for Cash's medical bills.Wally Cash Grizzly Attack FundUnion State BankUpton, Wyoming 82730.This story came to us through a news tip.