Woman sentenced to 4 days in jail, banned from Yellowstone for a year for approaching grizzly bear

A woman has been sentenced to four days in jail and banned from Yellowstone National Park for a year after approaching a grizzly bear. 

Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced Thursday that 25-year-old Samantha Dehring will also have one year unsupervised probation and pay a $1,000 fine and a $1,000 community service payment to the park. 

The incident took place on May 10 when Dehring was at Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone and did not move away from a grizzly bear with three cubs. 

She stood close to the bears to take pictures while one of them charged at her. Other witnesses got in their cars to give the bears space. 

“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,” Murray said. “Approaching a sow grizzly with cubs is absolutely foolish. Here, pure luck is why Dehring is a criminal defendant and not a mauled tourist.”

Dehring pleaded guilty on Wednesday in front of Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman to willfully remaining, approaching and photographing wildlife within 100 yards.

Another charge, feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife, was dismissed. 

“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,” Ethan Morris, an attorney for Dehring, said in a statement, The New York Times reported.

“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,” Morris added. 

The Hill has reached out to Morris for comment.