Toddler Injured After Crawling Into Wolf Enclosure at ZooAmerica

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A 17-month-old child was briefly grabbed by a wolf's mouth after crawling under a fence and into a restricted area of the wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The toddler's parents, Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson, were allegedly distracted by their phones at the time and unaware of the child's dangerous actions. The child suffered only minor injuries, and the parents have since been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of close supervision of young children at zoos and wildlife parks, where dangerous animals are present. It also raises questions about safety protocols and enclosure designs to prevent such breaches, as well as the potential consequences for negligent parenting that puts a child's life at risk.

The details

According to authorities, the toddler crawled under a perimeter fence and a metal fence surrounding the wolves' habitat, then stuck their hand through. One of the wolves, described as briefly 'mouthing' the child's hand in an investigatory behavior typical of canines, was quickly pulled away by bystanders. The child's parents, who were sitting nearby but allegedly distracted by their phones, were unaware of the incident until they heard the commotion.

• The incident occurred on Saturday at ZooAmerica in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
• The toddler, a 17-month-old child, crawled into the restricted wolf enclosure area.

What’s next

The parents, Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson, have been charged with a first-degree misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children. The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow them to be released on bail.