Toddler Injured After Crawling Under Zoo Barrier to Wolf Enclosure

Parents charged with child endangerment after incident at Hersheypark's ZooAmerica

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:52pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a zoo enclosure fence with a wolf visible through the bars, blurred in a warm, hazy light, conceptually illustrating the dangers of unsupervised children at wildlife exhibits.A recent incident of a child breaching zoo safety barriers and making contact with a wolf highlights the need for constant parental vigilance at wildlife exhibits.Lancaster Today

An 18-month-old child was injured after crawling under a safety barrier and making contact with a wolf at the ZooAmerica zoo in Hersheypark, Pennsylvania. The child's parents were charged with misdemeanor child endangerment after allegedly moving away from the toddler and looking at their phones at the time of the incident.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of close supervision of young children at zoos, where multiple safety barriers are in place to protect both visitors and animals. While injuries at accredited U.S. zoos are rare, this case exposes the risks when parents fail to closely monitor their children around dangerous wildlife exhibits.

The details

According to police, the 18-month-old child was able to crawl under an exterior perimeter fence and reach the primary metal enclosure surrounding the wolf habitat at ZooAmerica. A wolf then made contact with the child's hand, though the zoo stated the child was never inside the wolf's enclosure and the injuries were minor. The parents, from Lancaster County, were charged with one count each of misdemeanor child endangerment.

  • The incident occurred over the weekend at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark.
  • The parents were charged by police on Sunday.

The players

ZooAmerica

The zoo located within Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is home to a pack of three wolves.

Derry Township Police Department

The local police department that charged the parents with misdemeanor child endangerment.

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What they’re saying

“Based on our review, an unsupervised 18-month old child was able to crawl under an exterior perimeter fence, travel to the primary metal enclosure surrounding the wolf habitat, and put his hand through that fence. A wolf approached and made contact with the child's hand. This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression.”

— ZooAmerica

“The safety of our guests and the wellbeing of our animals at ZooAmerica are always our highest priorities. Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.”

— ZooAmerica

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the parents to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the critical importance of parental supervision at zoos, where safety barriers and signage are designed to protect both visitors and animals, but can be breached if young children are left unattended.