There are calls for the deportation of a hunting influencer after a viral video showed her removing a distressed baby wombat from its mother for a photo opportunity.
Backlash Against Influencer for Disturbing Wildlife
An American hunting influencer is facing severe backlash after sharing footage of herself capturing a baby wombat from the side of the road, separating it from its distressed mother for a photo opportunity.
The video was posted by Sam Jones, who has previously been identified as Samantha Strable in a hunting publication and uses the Instagram handle @samstrays_somewhere.
Jones, who describes herself as a “wildlife biologist and environmental scientist,” uploaded the video as a Reel, which she later deleted following the public outcry.
The footage shows Jones catching the wombat at night, while an Australian man films and laughs hysterically in the background.
As she runs across the road clutching the terrified baby wombat, its feet dangling in the air, the man filming can be heard saying, “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her!”
The influencer then lifts the struggling, visibly distressed animal toward the camera, smiling for a photo and captioning the clip, calling it her “dream” to hold a baby wombat.
When the mother wombat catches up to them, she says, “Okay, mama is right there, and she is pissed, let’s let him go.”
The man filming responds, “Nah, he’s all right,” as she eventually places the baby back on the ground.
In the caption, Jones claimed that “the baby and mum were safely united.”
WIRES responds
All Australian wildlife is protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
WIRES has confirmed that the actions shown in the footage are illegal.
Penalties for animal cruelty offenses vary across states, with fines reaching up to $235,600 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations, along with potential prison sentences of up to seven years.
Dr. Tania Bishop, a WIRES Wildlife Veterinarian, told that the wombat in the video is an at-foot joey, estimated to be around eight months old, and entirely dependent on its mother.
“It would stay with the mother at all times, relying on her for safety and protection,” she explained.
Being taken from its mother at such a young, vulnerable age would be incredibly distressing for the joey — but the way Ms. Jones handled the animal could have caused serious harm.
“When she’s running, the joey isn’t supported underneath, and wombats are very solid, especially in their hindquarters. This could have easily fractured the upper humerus, injured the shoulders, or caused other significant damage,” Dr. Bishop explained.
“You can see the joey swinging, visibly distressed, hissing, and crying out — clear signs of extreme fear and discomfort.
At the same time, the mother is visibly panicked, desperately chasing after her baby across the road,” she added.
She also highlighted that Ms. Jones’ actions put the mother wombat at risk, as chasing her baby across the road could have resulted in being hit by a car.
“This is an absolutely unacceptable way to treat our wildlife, especially when they’re already facing immense challenges,” she said.
Wombats are increasingly threatened by habitat loss due to cyclones and fires, disease, road accidents, and the impacts of climate change.
Aussies call for deportation
When asked why some people might view this behavior as acceptable, Dr. Bishop explained that the influencer’s background as a hunter could contribute to a lack of regard for an animal’s welfare and life.
“But I highly doubt many Australians watching that video would find it acceptable,” she added.
And she’s right — the backlash has been swift and intense.
Online communities quickly condemned the influencer’s actions.
“It’s not just entitlement, it’s blatant disrespect,” one user wrote on the r/australia subreddit, where the video was reshared.
“The fact that her first instinct wasn’t awe or gratitude at seeing this animal in the wild, but instead to exploit the moment for personal gain — with no regard for the trauma inflicted — speaks volumes about her character. Absolutely shameful.”
Another user commented, “These ‘influencers’ are parasites who will do anything for clicks.”
Many also pointed out the hypocrisy of her actions, noting that someone claiming to be a “wildlife biologist” should have known better.
Others have called for the influencer to be banned from returning to Australia.
Her social media activity shows she had been posting from Australia throughout 2024, though it’s unclear if she remains in the country.
“Let’s hope Australian authorities refuse to grant her any more holiday visas!” one person wrote.
“Arrest. Fine. Deport. Ban,” demanded another.
contacted the Department of Home Affairs for comment, but a spokesperson stated the Department does not comment on individual cases.
Influencer addresses backlash
At some point on Wednesday, Ms. Jones switched her public Instagram account — where she has over 92,000 followers — to private. She also made her TikTok account private.
Before removing the video, she responded to the backlash in the Instagram comments, writing:
“For everyone concerned, the baby was carefully held for just ONE minute before being released back to its mother.
They safely wandered back into the bush together, completely unharmed.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to catch it, and I took the chance to appreciate an amazing animal up close.
“I never capture wildlife in a way that would cause harm.”
Take a photo’
Dr. Bishop emphasized that while Australia’s wildlife is truly remarkable, the best way to appreciate these animals is by observing them from a distance — “just take a photo, there’s no need to pick them up.”
“They’re already facing so many challenges, and we shouldn’t add to their stress or put them at further risk,” she explained.
“We should cherish and respect them in their natural habitat while we still have the chance.”
Influencer’s troubling Instagram account
Ms. Jones’ Instagram feed is filled with photos of her posing alongside animals she claims to have hunted.
In one video, she and a friend are seen handling a snake in Australia, with the caption: “Just casually f***ing around with a venomous snake.”
Other posts show her pulling a baby shark from the ocean and picking up an echidna.
In another photo, she referred to kangaroos as “weird” and compared them to “rats.”
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