US influencer who sparked outrage in Australia over baby wombat stunt faces hunting charges

The American influencer who left Australia after sparking backlash for grabbing a baby wombat has been slapped with range of charges in the US.

Samantha Strable, who goes by Sam Jones online, was booked into the Sublette County Jail in Wyoming on November 21 over a string of hunting violations, local media Cowboy State Daily reported.

The 25-year-old is facing eight misdemeanour charges, including six counts of making false statements, plus taking wildlife without a licence and non-resident hunting without a guide in a wilderness area.

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According to the outlet, Strable allegedly lied about being a Wyoming resident to obtain local hunting licences, even though she had been away from the state long enough to lose her resident hunter status.

An anonymous tip on August 11 claimed Strable had been buying resident tags despite not living in Wyoming for more than two years, and had even bragged about it online.

Influencer Samantha Strable, or Sam Jones as she’s known online, sparked outrage when she was filmed picking up a wild baby wombat. Credit: Instagram

She was released the same day on her own recognisance but could face up to a year in jail and more than $US10,000 in fines if convicted.

Strable sparked outrage in Australia in March after posting a video of herself taking a baby wombat from its mother for a photo opportunity.

In the video, the influencer runs down a remote road holding the joey as a man laughs off-camera, saying: “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her.”

Holding the distressed animal up to the camera, Strable says: “I caught a baby wombat. Mumma’s right there, she is p****d, let’s let him go.”

The marsupial was eventually released back onto the road.

Samantha Strable has been charged over a string of hunting violations. Credit: Facebook

Australians slammed the stunt, flooding Strable’s social media and calling for her to be banned from entering the country.

A Change.org petition soon followed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the footage an “outrage”.

“To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage,” Albanese said, describing the marsupials as “gentle, lovely creatures”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he couldn’t “wait for Australia to see the back of this individual”.

He later confirmed Strable had left the country on March 14, though it remains unclear whether she was deported or departed voluntarily.

“There’s never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia,” Burke said at the time.