YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Not even James Bond is allowed special access to certain parts of Yellowstone National Park (YNP), it seems.
Actor Pierce Brosnan has been fined for standing on a thermal feature in Mammoth Hot Springs and posting a photo posing in the off-limits area in November of 2023. According to the Department of Justice’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming, Brosnan was fined $500, required to pay a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee and a $10 special assessment.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick on Thursday, March 14, in Mammoth, Wyoming. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the National Park Service.
Brosnan pled guilty to the charge. He had previously pled not guilty The United States Attorney’s Office originally asked the court to sentence Brosnan to two years of probation and the maximum fine of $5,000.
Brosnan allegedly posted a photo of himself standing on the thermal feature to his Instagram page, but it has since been removed from his account. The Instagram account Tourons of Yellowstone posted the photo, but does not name Brosnan in the post.
“The National Park Service (NPS) reminds Yellowstone visitors that the ground in thermal areas is fragile and thin, and scalding water is just below the surface,” the announcement states. “Therefore, trespassing on thermal features is dangerous and can harm delicate natural resources within the park. Additionally, the park was established primarily to protect these hydrothermal areas. NPS encourages visitors to exercise extreme caution around thermal features by staying on boardwalks and trails.”
The court’s announcement notes that the area has posted signs warning YNP visitors of the dangerous terrain, and reminding them to remain on the designated boardwalks and trails.
“NPS also urges people to protect themselves and the fragile environment by taking the
Yellowstone Pledge: act responsibly and safely and set a good example for others,” the announcement states. “If you see someone, in person or online, whose behavior might hurt them, others or the park, tell a ranger.”
