A Texas man has been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to walking off the designated boardwalk in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park (YNP).
Eric Bedient, 50, of Frisco, Texas, was sentenced to five days of incarceration on March 31, 2026, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Hambrick. According to court documents, Bedient walked directly on several fragile and dangerous hydrothermal features in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Those features included Canary Spring, Mound Terrace, Palette Hot Spring, and Jupiter Terrace. The sentence reflected the extensive nature of violation, the damage Bedient’s footprints left behind, and Bedient’s failure to educate himself about Yellowstone National Park’s regulations.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said, “Yellowstone’s thermal areas are among the most dangerous natural features in the world. Mr. Bedient’s disregard for the law could have cost him his life. Prosecuting crimes like this deters others from similar conduct—and from risking becoming thermal soup. We will continue to hold individuals accountable to protect lives and preserve this unique, irreplaceable landscape when their actions threaten these national treasures for future generations.”
The crime was investigated by Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes.
For travellers planning to visit YNP this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reminds the public to stay safe and adhere by all park regulations.
Those rules include always walk on boardwalks and designated trails, keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks.
Even thermal runoff can be extremely hot and cause burns. Hot springs also contain algae, bacteria, and fungi found nowhere else in the world; coming in contact with these lifeforms can destroy them.
More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone’s hot springs. For safety and for the protection of thermal features in Yellowstone, it is illegal to swim or bathe in any water that is entirely of thermal origin.
Pets are not allowed in thermal areas or on boardwalks, even if they’re on a leash or carried in arms, strollers, or backpacks. This policy exists to protect pets from being burned or killed in hot springs. Trained service animals that perform tasks directly related to a person’s disability are allowed throughout the park and in all park facilities. They must always be leashed.
