The former James Bond actor has been fined more than $1,500.
Pierce Brosnan has apologized after pleading guilty to traveling on foot in a thermal zone during a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park.
The 70-year-old former James Bond actor said: “As a conservationist, I have the utmost respect and love for our natural world.” Instagram Share on Thursday.
“However, I made a reckless mistake — one I do not take lightly — when I entered a snow-covered thermal area in Yellowstone National Park to take a photo,” he added, adding that he did not see “no trespassing.” A sign warns him of the danger and notes that he has not been hiking in the area.
Brosnan ended his post by saying, “I deeply regret my transgression and offer my sincere apologies to everyone for trespassing on this sensitive area. Yellowstone and all of our national parks must be nurtured and preserved for all to enjoy. #StayOnThePath.”
“Mama Mia!” The actor was fined $500, ordered to pay $1,000 to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, and cited other fines by U.S. Magistrate Stephanie A. Hambrick on March 14 in Mammoth, Wyoming, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Brosnan pleaded guilty to traveling on foot in a thermal area inside one of Yellowstone National Park's thermal attractions in Mammoth Hot Springs afterward, according to court documents cited in the news release. He posted photos on Instagram on or about November 1, 2023, of himself standing in a restricted area.
“There are signs installed in the area warning visitors of the dangers of the thermal features and reminding that visitors should stay on designated trails and walkways,” the news release said. “The National Park Service (NPS) reminds visitors to Yellowstone that the ground in thermal areas is fragile and thin, and that scalding waters lie just below the surface.”
“Therefore, trespassing on thermal features is dangerous and can harm sensitive natural resources within the park,” the press release continued, adding that the park was “established primarily to protect these hydrothermal areas” and the NPS encouraged visitors to “exercise extreme caution” and stay tuned. On designated paths while exploring these areas.
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