An American influencer, a baby wombat, an apology to Australia and the national outrage that has gotten out of control.

In case you missed it, an American hunting influencer has gone viral for all the wrong reasons this week, after snatching a baby wombat from its mother on the side of an Australian road.

The incident has sparked international outrage, government intervention, and a masterclass in how not to behave as a tourist in Australia.

Things went from bad to worse for Sam Jones when her apology backfired after she criticised Australia's animal culling practices and accused the country of hypocrisy. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Let's break the whole thing down

Influencer Sam Jones picked a wombat up on the road.

Sam Jones picked up a wombat on the road. Image: Instagram/samstrays_somewhere

The video, which has since been deleted but continues to circulate widely, shows Montana-based outdoor enthusiast Sam Jones laughing as she grabs a distressed joey while its mother chases after her.

"I caught a baby wombat," Jones excitedly declares in the video, as the tiny animal can be heard hissing and struggling in her grip. The man filming can be heard laughing and saying, "Look at the mother, it's chasing after her!"

The clip, which Jones initially captioned, "My dream of holding a wombat has been realised!", sparked an immediate and fierce backlash from Australians, who generally understand that native wildlife should be admired from a respectful distance.

The backlash.

The outrage was so intense that it reached the highest levels of government, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighing in.

"This so-called influencer... she might like to take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there," Albanese told reporters in what might be the most Australian-Prime-Ministerial comment ever.

Watch Prime Minister Albanese's response. Article continues after video.

The controversy escalated quickly, and soon, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that his department was reviewing whether Jones's visa could be revoked. An online petition calling for her deportation gathered more than 40,000 signatures.

Wildlife experts were equally appalled. The Wombat Protection Society released a statement expressing shock at the "mishandling of a wombat joey in an apparent snatch for 'social media likes'". They added that Jones had "placed the vulnerable baby back onto a country road — potentially putting it at risk of becoming roadkill."

Her apology.

As public pressure mounted, Jones posted a lengthy two-part statement on Instagram. In the first part, she apologised and attempted to explain her actions.

"I was extremely concerned when I found the wombats on the road, not moving," she wrote. "I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me. The snap judgment I made in these moments was never from a place of harm."

But it was the second part of her statement that really raised eyebrows. Jones launched into a critique of Australia's animal culling practices, accusing Australians of hypocrisy.

Her statement. Image: Instagram/samstrays_somewhere

"For the readers that are so angered by my mistaken attempt to help and that I am a hunter — do not be blind to your country," she wrote. "The Australian government allows and permits the slaughter of wombats."

She went on to claim that "loving the National Parks and Wildlife Service of Australia while being angered at me for killing feral deer for food, is hypocrisy at its finest."

Death threats and an early departure.

The statements didn't seem to help her case. Jones said that she had received "thousands" of death threats over the incident, and soon left Australia of her own accord.

Meanwhile, across the Pacific, Americans were watching the drama unfold with collective embarrassment. US citizens on social media were keen to distance themselves from Jones's actions.

Many US citizens distancing themselves from Jones's actions. Image: Instagram/samstrays_somewhere

"She's made all Americans look bad," wrote one commenter, while another added, "We don't claim her — most of us know better than to manhandle wildlife in another country."

The saga serves as a stern reminder for tourists and influencers alike: when travelling abroad, understanding and respecting local wildlife protection laws isn't just advisable — it's essential. And when in Australia, perhaps the wisest approach to our iconic wildlife is to keep a respectful distance and your hands to yourself, no matter how cute that wombat may be.

Feature Image: Instagram/samstrays_somewhere.