A Montana woman has been attacked by a grizzly bear in the Cabinet Mountains, just months after landing her dream job studying the animals.

Amber Kornak was working alone near a stream for the US Fish and Wildlife Service on May 17 when the bear approached her from behind and mauled her.

She was 'lucky to have survived' and suffered two skull fractures and severe lacerations to her head, neck, and back, her friend Jenna Hemer wrote on a GoFundMe set up to help cover Ms Kornak's medical costs.

The 28-year-old seasonal field assistant was able to reach her bear spray as she was attacked and stop the predator.

Wildlife researcher Amber Kornak was mauled by a grizzly bear while working in Montana's Cabinet Mountains last week

The 28-year-old had just landed her dream job researching the predators specifically. Pictured: A grizzly bear in Montana's Cabinet Mountains (stock image)

Ms Kornak suffered two fractures on her skull and severe lacerations to her head, neck, and back

With the bear finally gone, Ms Kornak then hiked two miles back to her car and drover herself to find help. She was flown out 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,' Ms Hemer wrote.

'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 [cleaned].'

While Ms Kornak's condition is now stable, she remains in intensive care so doctors can monitor her for possible seizures and signs of infection.

Ms Hemer said while her friend is passionate about all wildlife, it has been a longstanding dream of hers to work specifically with grizzly bears - and while Ms Konak is staying positive, it would be a while before she'd be able to return to the mountains.

'She's obviously passionate about all wildlife, but her dream and her primary focus was to work with grizzly bears,' Ms Hemer told Associated Press.

'Last I spoke with her was yesterday and she's making great strides but it's going to be a long recovery.'

Her friend Jenna Hemer said Ms Kornak was lucky to survive the surprise attack (pictured: Ms Kornak with her father)

She was mauled while working alone near a stream in Montana's Cabinet Mountains (stock image pictured)

The wildlife enthusiast was able to stop the attack with bear spray, and then hiked on her own for two miles before driving to find help

Ms Kornak was working on a genetic study that requires collecting grizzly hair samples.

The hairs can be found on trees or other objects that grizzlies rub against, and are used to analyze the animals' DNA.

Officials speculated that noise from nearby Poorman Creek may have allowed the animal to close in on Kornak without her noticing.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman Jennifer Strickland said the field assistant had been following correct protocol at the time of the attack.

There is no formal rule about government workers travelling alone in bear country, Strickland said. But experts say traveling in groups of three or more dramatically decreases the chance of an attack.

The Cabinet Mountains are home to an estimated 50 grizzlies, protected across the region as a threatened species under federal law. The range also has black bears, typically a less aggressive species.

Officials have not said which type was responsible for the attack that remains under investigation by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

She was airlifted to hospital, where she remains in ICU while doctors monitor her for possible seizures caused by injury to her brain