A woman who managed to sneak out of Australia has been arrested in the United States on suspicion of hunting violations after a video surfaced showing her taking a baby wombat off the road, which quickly went viral.
Samantha Struble, also known online as Sam Jones, now faces several charges in Wyoming for allegedly lying about her residence when applying for hunting permits.
Local media reported that she was taken into custody in Sublette County on November 21.
A court indictment claims Struble falsely claimed to reside in Wyoming to secure multiple hunting permits intended for residents. She’s dealing with eight misdemeanor charges, including six counts of providing false information and one count for taking wildlife without authorization.
Additionally, she is accused of hunting as a non-resident in the wilderness without the required guide. According to court documents, Struble actually lives in Great Falls, Montana, and her name made headlines back in March when she attracted significant attention for allegedly capturing a baby wombat during a visit to Australia.
The video of her interactions with native wildlife sparked outrage among Australians and drew global attention.
Many Australians were disturbed by her actions, leading to calls for consequences. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Secretary Tony Burke condemned her behavior, indicating that Australia felt relieved to have her back after the fallout. Moreover, a Change.org petition demanding she be banned from Australia garnered around 50,000 signatures before it was taken down.
The footage shows Struble, who describes herself as a “wildlife biologist and environmental scientist,” catching a baby wombat at night while a man nearby laughs and records. In the video, she’s seen running across the road with the frightened baby wombat, while its mother chases after her.
At one point, a man comments on the scene, saying, “Look at your mom, she’s coming after you.” Struble appears to enjoy the moment, posing for a photo with the baby wombat and sharing that holding this native animal was a dream of hers. After returning the young marsupial to its mother, she noted the mother was “angry” but assured her followers that “baby and mother successfully united.”
Amid the rising backlash, Struble issued an unusual apology, implying that Australians were being hypocritical regarding their treatment of native animals and noted she felt her life was in danger due to the public response.
“Am I a villain? Dear reader, things are not what they seem,” she wrote, mentioning that “thousands of people are threatening my life because I captured a wombat.” She urged those outraged to consider the realities of Australia today.
Shortly after her comments, Prime Minister Albanese challenged her in a public statement, daring her to “bring another animal that can actually fight back.” He suggested a scenario where she could try capturing a baby crocodile from its mother, questioning her motives.
Struble later expressed regret about her actions, stating that she truly felt sorry for any pain caused, insisting her intentions were to ensure the animals’ safety.
She recounted her concern upon seeing the mother and baby wombat on the street, explaining that wombats often get hurt on Australian roads, which prompted her to intervene.
Since the backlash, she has largely stayed out of the public eye, particularly after U.S. authorities received an anonymous tip in August indicating that she was still acquiring resident hunting tags despite living outside Wyoming for over two years.
According to the Cowboy State Daily, records showed Struble began purchasing resident licenses in 2022.
However, social media updates from April to June noted her presence in Montana and North Dakota. The charges she faces could lead to significant fines and even jail time. Following her arrest, Struble was released on her own recognizance the same day.
