Prison After Grizzly Encounter in Yellowstone
A woman from Illinois is sentenced to four days in prison for approaching a grizzly bear with cubs in Yellowstone Park.
A judge has sentenced a woman from Illinois to four days in prison for failing to move away when a grizzly bear with two cubs came dangerously close to her in Yellowstone National Park and made a bluff charge.
Yellowstone Ban and Fine
Samantha R. Dehring, 25, of Carol Stream, Illinois, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to wilfully remaining within 100 yards (91 metres) of wildlife, approaching them, and photographing them.
In addition to the prison sentence, US Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman imposed a one-year ban on Dehring from entering Yellowstone and ordered her to pay a fine of $1,000 as well as $1,000 to a wildlife protection fund.
«Absolutely Foolish»
When the grizzly bear came much closer than the football-field-length limit that applies to bears and wolves in Yellowstone, other visitors backed away and got into their cars. Dehring stayed in place and continued taking photographs.
The grizzly eventually charged, running towards Dehring but turning away before reaching her.
«Approaching a grizzly mother with cubs is absolutely foolish», said acting US Attorney for Wyoming Bob Murray. «Pure luck is the reason Dehring is a criminal defendant and not a mauled tourist.»
Grizzlies have killed eight people in the Yellowstone region since 2010, including Charles «Carl» Mock, a man from Montana who was mauled while fishing near the park in April.
