Toddler injured after incident at ZooAmerica wolf habitat

Zoo says child never entered enclosure, but was able to reach into wolf's space.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A child was injured after crawling under a fence and sticking their hand into a wolf enclosure at the ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Pennsylvania. The 18-month-old was unsupervised when the incident occurred, and a wolf made contact with the child's hand. The zoo said the child's injuries were minor and that at no point was the child inside the wolf's enclosure.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the safety protocols and barriers in place at zoos to protect both visitors and animals, especially when it comes to young children. It also highlights the importance of proper supervision of children at public attractions.

The details

According to the zoo, the child crawled under an exterior perimeter fence and headed to the primary metal enclosure of the wolf habitat, where they put their hand through the fence. A wolf then approached and made contact with the child's hand. The zoo said this type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior and was not a sign of aggression.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The players

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park

A zoo located in Hershey, Pennsylvania that is part of the Hersheypark amusement park. The zoo is home to over 200 animals native to North America and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company

The company that operates ZooAmerica and Hersheypark.

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What’s next

ZooAmerica has said it is reviewing the incident to determine if any changes need to be made to its safety protocols or enclosure designs.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of proper supervision of children at zoos and other public attractions with animal habitats. While zoos strive to create safe environments, accidents can still occur when visitors do not follow the rules and guidelines in place.