Child Injured in Wolf Attack at Hershey's ZooAmerica

Parents charged with endangering welfare of child after incident at zoo enclosure

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:41pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a wolf's sharp teeth and jaws, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic of the animal's power and the potential dangers at zoos.A chilling close-up of the wolf's instinctive attack, exposing the dangers that can arise when visitors fail to heed safety protocols at zoos.Hershey Today

A 17-month-old child was injured after crawling through a fence and sticking their arm into a wolf enclosure at Hershey's ZooAmerica. The child was attacked by a wolf, but suffered only minor injuries after bystanders were able to pull the child away. The child's parents, Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson, were charged with endangering the welfare of children as they were nearby but distracted on their phones at the time of the incident.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about safety protocols and parental supervision at zoos, where dangerous animals are kept in close proximity to the public. It also highlights the need for enhanced barriers and signage to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

The details

According to court documents, the 17-month-old child crawled through a fence meant to keep visitors away from the wolf enclosure and stuck their arm through a chainlink fence. Police say the wolf 'instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child's hand with its mouth', resulting in minor injuries to the child. Bystanders were able to pull the child away from the animal.

  • The incident occurred over the weekend at Hershey's ZooAmerica.
  • Court documents were filed on Monday, April 6, 2026.

The players

Carrie Sortor

A 43-year-old parent who was charged with endangering the welfare of children.

Stephen Wilson

A 61-year-old parent who was charged with endangering the welfare of children.

Hershey Entertainment and Resorts

The company that operates Hershey's ZooAmerica, which stated that the safety of guests and animals is their highest priority.

ZooAmerica

An Association of Zoos and Aquariums facility that is home to more than 200 animals, including three gray wolves.

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What’s next

The parents, Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 28, 2026.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for enhanced safety measures and parental supervision at zoos, where dangerous animals are kept in close proximity to the public. It also raises questions about the responsibility of both zoos and visitors to ensure the well-being of all.