Pierce Brosnan offered his ‘heartfelt apologies’ as he was fined $500 (£392) for stepping off a trail in Yellowstone National Park.
The James Bond star was caught after posting pictures online of himself in the thermal area during a visit in November, a Wyoming court heard.
He has also been ordered to make a $1,000 donation by the end of the month to Yellowstone Forever, a nonprofit organisation that supports the park.
Posting on his Instagram page late on Thursday, Brosnan, 70, said he was ‘an environmentalist’ who had ‘the utmost respect for and love of our natural world’.
He added: ‘However, I made an impulsive mistake – one that I do not take lightly – when entering a thermal area covered in snow in Yellowstone National Park to take a photograph.
‘I did not see a ‘No Trespassing’ sign posted that warned of danger nor did I hike in the immediate area.
‘I deeply regret my transgression and offer my heartfelt apologies to all for trespassing in this sensitive area. Yellowstone and all our National Parks are to be cared for and preserved for all to enjoy.’
Brosnan, 70, walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana line, on Nov. 1, according to citations issued by the park.
He uploaded images of himself standing in the snow on the thermal feature to his Instagram page, court records said.
Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside.
Federal rules stipulate visitors to national parks must stay on the designated walkways.
Venturing off the boardwalk is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Brosnan initially pleaded not guilty in January to wandering into the ‘delicate’ and dangerous hot springs at Yellowstone National Park, despite being pictured standing on the protected area at the time of the alleged infraction.
Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick then granted the 70-year-old’s request to cancel his initial appearance.
The features at Yellowstone are dangerous and fragile and if damaged they can take years to correct.
Numerous people have been killed from falling into Yellowstone’s scalding pools.
They include Colin Nathaniel Scott, who is thought to have dissolved in the hot acidic water after leaving the boardwalk at the park’s Norris Geyser Basin in search of a place to soak in 2015.
In 2021, a Connecticut woman was jailed for seven days, fined $2,000 and banned from Yellowstone for two years for leaving the walkway and approaching the thermals.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
