A 25-year-old Illinois woman faces the prospect of a $10,000 fine and a year in jail for getting too close to a grizzly in Yellowstone National Park/USFWS file

An Illinois woman who allegedly got too close to a Yellowstone National Park grizzly for photos faces a possible $10,000 fine and a year in jail under charges brought against her.

Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced Monday that Samantha R. Dehring, 25, of Carol Stream, Illinois, was charged with one count of willfully remaining, approaching, and photographing wildlife within 100 yards and one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife.

Dehring is expected to appear in front of Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, on August 26 for her arraignment. 

According to the violation notices, Dehring was at Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone 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, according to a release from the park. She continued to take pictures as the sow bluff charged her.

Witnesses took pictures and video of the incident that were shared with news outlets and eventually led to her identification.

If found guilty, Dehring faces up to a year in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, the release said.