Grizzly Bear Encounter: Illinois Woman Sentenced

CAROL STREAM, IL — The Carol Stream woman who approached a grizzly bear and her two cubs in May has been sentenced to four days in jail after she remained too close to the mother bear as it charged her.

Samantha Dehring, 25, was at Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park on May 10. While other visitors backed away after noticing a sow grizzly and her three cubs, Dehring remained and continued to take photos as the bear charged her.

Officials said Dehring was only 15 feet from the bear.

Read more: Illinois Woman Faces Federal Charges For Approaching Grizzly Bear

Dehring pleaded guilty to willfully remaining, approaching, and photographing wildlife within 100 yards, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming said.

In addition to her jail time, she was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $1,000 payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund.

Additionally, Dehring will be banned from Yellowstone National Park for one year.

Yellowstone National Park regulations state that when an animal is near a trail, boardwalk or parking lot or in a developed area, guests must give it space and stay 25 yards away from all large animals (bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, coyotes) and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

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