A woman who gained global attention earlier this year after a video showed her picking up a baby wombat on an Australian roadside has now been arrested in the United States.
Authorities accuse her of violating hunting regulations and providing false information to obtain restricted permits.
The case has reopened public debate surrounding wildlife behavior, legal hunting practices, and online influence.
Alleged Hunting Offenses in the United States
Charges Filed in Wyoming
Samantha Strable — who is also known online as Sam Jones — is now facing several criminal charges in Wyoming. According to court documents, she allegedly falsified her state residency in order to secure hunting tags that are only available to Wyoming residents.
Booking Details
Strable was taken into custody on November 21 and booked into Sublette County Jail, located in a mountainous region of Wyoming. Local media confirmed the arrest.
Specific Accusations
Court filings outline eight misdemeanor charges, including:
- Six counts of false swearing
- One charge of taking wildlife without the proper license
- One charge for nonresident hunting in a wilderness area without the required guide
Investigators also noted that Strable’s legal address is listed in Great Falls, Montana — not Wyoming, as she allegedly claimed.
Viral Wombat Incident That Sparked Global Outrage
How the Video Went Viral
Strable first drew widespread condemnation in March when a video of her lifting a baby wombat off a road in Australia circulated online. The footage shows her grabbing the joey while an Australian man filming the scene laughs in the background.
Public Backlash
The video triggered strong reactions across Australia, with thousands of people calling for legal consequences. Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke criticized her actions, saying the country was “glad to see the back of her” when she left.
A Change.org petition demanding she be banned from Australia gathered nearly 50,000 signatures before closing.
Details of the Wombat Encounter
What the Footage Showed
In the nighttime clip, Strable is seen lifting the frightened baby wombat and running across the road while its distressed mother follows. She then smiles at the camera while holding the animal, sharing online that holding a wombat was her “dream.”
Despite returning the joey to its mother and claiming both were “safely united,” viewers accused her of harassing native wildlife.
Her Online Apology
Following massive backlash, Strable released an unusual apology, suggesting Australians were being hypocritical. She claimed she only intervened because she believed the animals were in danger on the roadside.
She later said she was “truly sorry for the distress” caused but insisted her intention was to ensure the animals were not harmed by passing vehicles.
How U.S. Authorities Became Involved
Anonymous Tip Sparked Investigation
The case resurfaced after an anonymous report on August 11 alleged that Strable continued to purchase Wyoming resident hunting tags despite not having lived in the state for more than two years. The tipster also stated she “bragged about it” to her 90,000 social media followers.
Evidence Collected
A search of Wyoming’s Game and Fish licensing records reportedly shows Strable began buying resident licenses in 2022. However, her social media posts from April 2024 to June 2025 appeared to place her in states such as Montana and North Dakota — contradicting residency requirements.
Possible Penalties
If convicted, Strable could face significant fines and even jail time. She was released from custody the same day she was booked, on her own recognizance.
The controversy surrounding Samantha Strable has shifted dramatically from her viral wombat incident in Australia to serious hunting-related charges in the United States. While she previously defended her actions as misguided attempts to protect wildlife, U.S. authorities now allege intentional falsehoods tied to hunting permits.
With multiple misdemeanors pending, the case highlights growing public scrutiny of influencers who interact with wildlife and the importance of adherence to state hunting laws. The final outcome will depend on the court proceedings ahead, but the situation has already drawn international attention and renewed criticism of her conduct.
