Samantha R Dehring, Approaching Protected Wildlife, Wyoming 2021

Grizzly sow and cubs

Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that Samantha R. Dehring, a 25-year-old woman from Carol Stream, Illinois, has been charged with approaching wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.

According to the violation notices, Dehring was at Roaring Mountain in the park on May 10, 2021, when visitors noticed a sow grizzly and her three cubs. While other visitors slowly backed off and got into their vehicles, Dehring remained and continued to take pictures as the sow bluff charged her.

Witnesses took pictures and video of the incident, which was shared with news outlets and eventually led to her identification. Dehring faces up to a year in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Dehring is expected to appear in front of Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming on August 26, 2021, for her arraignment. This case is being investigated by Yellowstone National Park Rangers and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Hambrick.

Park Rangers from Yellowstone National Park provided the results of their investigation to Rangers in Dehring’s area who served her the violation notices in person. These charges are only accusations of a violation of law and Dehring is presumed innocent until when and if proven guilty.

For questions relating to Yellowstone National Park, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 307-344-2015 or yell_public_affairs@nps.gov. This incident highlights the importance of respecting wildlife and their habitats, and the severe consequences of disrupting them.

As a reminder, approaching wildlife in any national park is a serious offense that can put both humans and animals in harm’s way. We urge visitors to the park to exercise caution and respect the animals’ space.

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