YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — An Illinois woman pleaded guilty to taking photographs and not getting out of the way of a grizzly bear with two cubs at Yellowstone National Park, prosecutors said Thursday.
Samantha R. Dehring, 25, of Carol Stream, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of willfully remaining, approaching and photographing wildlife within 100 yards, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman sentenced Dehring to four days in jail, banned her from Yellowstone for one year and ordered her to pay a $1,000 fine and $1,000 to a wildlife protection fund, the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights reported.
Dehring was at Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone on May 10, 2021, when visitors noticed a sow grizzly and her three cubs, prosecutors said.
While other visitors slowly backed away and got into their vehicles, Dehring remained within 100 yards of the animal, a violation of park rules. She continued to take pictures as the grizzly bluff charged her before turning away, the Daily Herald reported.
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“Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are, indeed, wild. The park is not a zoo where animals can be viewed within the safety of a fenced enclosure. They roam freely in their natural habitat and when threatened will react accordingly,” acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray said in a statement. “Approaching a sow grizzly with cubs is absolutely foolish. Here, pure luck is why Dehring is a criminal defendant and not a mauled tourist.”
Carman dismissed another count -- feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife -- against Dehring, in exchange for her guilty plea and sentencing, KTVM reported.
In a statement, Ethan Morris, an attorney representing Dehring, said she had “showed great remorse and regret for her actions throughout this case.”
Morris added that Dehring received “constant online abuse” since the video of her encounter with the bears was posted online, The New York Times reported.
“While we understand that the court must send a message to deter others from violating park regulations, it is unfortunate that the district attorney’s office chose to single Ms. Dehring out,” Morris said in his statement. “Nevertheless, we accept the judgment and sentence of the court and hope this case serves as an opportunity for park visitors and staff to take steps to prevent something like this from happening again.”