Woman Jailed For Getting Too Close To Grizzly Bear And Her Cubs

A 25-year-old Illinois woman has been sentenced to four days in jail for staying too close to a grizzly bear and her cubs at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Samantha Dehring, of Carol Stream, Illinois, encountered the sow grizzly and her three cubs while she was at Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park on May 10.

While other visitors slowly backed off and got into their vehicles after seeing the bears, Dehring remained and continued to take photos of the animals as the sow bluff charged her, according to the violation notices.

Dehring pleaded guilty Wednesday to willfully remaining, approaching and photographing wildlife within 100 yards (91 meters), according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Wyoming.

In addition to jail time, Dehring was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $1,000 community service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund. She was also banned from Yellowstone for one year.

Dehring faced another count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife, but the charge was dismissed.

“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,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray.

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

Park regulations require visitors to stay at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from all large animals — bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes — and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

Grizzlies have killed eight people in the Yellowstone region since 2010, the Associated Press reported. They include Montana resident Charles “Carl” Mock, who was mauled while fishing near the park in April.