‘How Do You Plan on Proving That?’ Influencer Who Stole a Wombat Asked Investigators Before Facing Eight Hunting Charges

Months after outrage erupted over a video showing an American influencer carrying away a screaming baby wombat from its mother on an Australian roadside, Samantha Strable is now facing criminal charges in Wyoming tied to hunting licenses and residency claims. Investigators allege the woman known online as Sam Jones improperly obtained resident hunting privileges while spending much of her time outside the state.

The Wombat Video Triggered International Backlash

The controversy began in March 2025 when Strable posted a now-deleted Instagram video filmed in Australia. In the footage, she lifted a baby wombat from the roadside and ran toward a vehicle while the joey screeched and its mother chased behind her. A man filming laughed and shouted, “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her.” Strable later released the animal, claiming the pair “slowly waddled back off together into the bush.” The video quickly spread across Australian and international media, drawing condemnation from conservationists, veterinarians, and government officials.

Australia’s Prime Minister Publicly Denounced Her Actions

The backlash escalated when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly criticized the influencer, calling the stunt “an outrage.” He sarcastically suggested Strable try taking a baby crocodile from its mother instead of targeting “gentle, lovely creatures” that could not fight back. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced immigration officials were reviewing her visa status and later said he doubted she would ever return to Australia. An online petition demanding deportation reportedly gathered more than 10,000 signatures as outrage spread across social media and television news.

Wildlife Experts Said the Joey Could Have Been Injured

Veterinarians and wildlife rescue groups warned that the video may have placed the joey in serious danger. Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Tania Bishop said the way Strable lifted the wombat by its forearms could have damaged its shoulders and upper limbs. Yolandi Vermaak of Wombat Rescue also warned that separating young wombats from their mothers risks rejection after reunification. Experts noted that wombat joeys remain highly dependent on their mothers for survival during early development and are vulnerable to stress and injury.

Wombats Are Protected and Closely Tied to Their Mothers

The animals at the center of the controversy are legally protected across most of Australia. Bare-nosed wombats, the species believed to appear in the video, are marsupials native only to Australia and can live more than two decades in the wild. Female wombats carry their young in backward-facing pouches before joeys gradually become independent over several months. Conservation organizations say separation from mothers can be highly distressing because young wombats rely heavily on maternal protection and feeding during development.

Investigators Then Began Looking at Her Hunting Licenses

While the wombat controversy dominated headlines, Wyoming investigators were conducting a separate inquiry into Strable’s hunting activities. According to affidavits filed by Wyoming Game and Fish officials, authorities began investigating after receiving an anonymous tip alleging that Strable had continued buying resident hunting tags despite allegedly living outside Wyoming for years. Investigators examined social media posts, employment records, phone tower data, and interviews with former roommates to reconstruct where she had actually been living.

The Charges Focus on Residency and Hunting Privileges

Strable now faces eight misdemeanor charges in Wyoming, including six counts of false swearing or fraud, one count of taking wildlife without a license, and one count of nonresident hunting without a guide in a wilderness area. Wyoming law requires hunters claiming resident status to live in the state for a full calendar year and lose residency if they spend more than 180 days elsewhere. Prosecutors allege Strable claimed Wyoming residency while working in Australia, traveling through other states, and maintaining ties to Alaska and Montana.

The Investigation Relied Heavily on Digital Evidence

Court records describe a detailed digital trail assembled by Wyoming Game Warden Jacob Miller. Authorities reviewed Instagram posts placing Strable in Australia, Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska, while employment records reportedly showed she worked for an ecological consulting company in Newcastle, Australia, between late 2023 and early 2024. Investigators also obtained T-Mobile phone tower data that allegedly tracked her movements through multiple states and countries. The affidavit states that when Miller confronted her about the residency discrepancies, Strable replied, “That’s not the case. I was here for way more than that,” before asking, “Ok, how do you plan on proving that?”

Strable Argued Wyoming Was Still Her Home Base

According to court filings, Strable insisted Wyoming remained her primary residence because she kept property there and spent more time there than anywhere else. She reportedly told investigators that residency was “tricky” because she had not spent enough time in Alaska to qualify there either. Her defenders online have argued that the investigation became unusually aggressive because of the public backlash surrounding the wombat incident. Critics, however, contend the case reflects broader frustrations with influencers who build large audiences around hunting, wildlife encounters, and extreme outdoor content while appearing to ignore legal or ethical boundaries.

The Case Has Become Bigger Than One Viral Video

Strable’s trial is scheduled for June 27 in Sublette County Circuit Court and is expected to last three days. Whatever the outcome, the case already highlights how online notoriety can rapidly intensify legal scrutiny in unrelated areas of a person’s life. It also reflects a broader cultural shift around wildlife content, where actions once dismissed as reckless internet stunts increasingly draw intervention from governments, conservation groups, and criminal investigators. For wildlife agencies and online creators alike, the line between entertainment and exploitation is no longer being treated as a gray area.