Hershey, Pa. – A routine family outing at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park took a frightening turn when a toddler slipped into a restricted zone near the wolf exhibit and suffered minor hand injuries from a wolf’s contact. The incident prompted swift action from bystanders and zoo staff, but also drew scrutiny from authorities over parental supervision. Derry Township police charged the child’s parents with endangering the welfare of children, underscoring the risks in high-traffic animal attractions.[1][2]
A Swift Breach Leads to Close Encounter
On April 4, 2026, around midday, an 18-month-old boy wandered unsupervised near the wolf habitat. He crawled through a small opening in an exterior wooden perimeter fence, entering a restricted area adjacent to the primary chain-link enclosure housing three gray wolves.[3]
The child then reached his hand through the inner fence into the wolves’ space. One wolf approached and grabbed the hand briefly in what the zoo described as investigatory behavior typical of wild canines examining unfamiliar objects. Bystanders quickly intervened, pulling the toddler to safety before the situation escalated. The boy sustained only surface-level injuries requiring minor treatment.[1][4]
Parental Distraction Draws Investigation
Video evidence and witness accounts revealed that the child’s mother, Carrie Sortor, 43, and father, Stephen Wilson, 61, both from nearby Lititz, had moved about 25 to 30 feet away to benches overlooking the exhibit. They appeared engrossed in their cellphones during the critical moments.[2]
Police noted the parents only reacted after hearing commotion from the enclosure. Derry Township Police Chief Garth W. Warner emphasized the vulnerability of young children in such environments, stating, “There are plenty of opportunities for a child of that age to hurt themselves on things. Let alone, be left alone, essentially by themselves, where they could get themselves into a situation like this child did.”[1] This lapse in vigilance formed the basis for the charges filed against them.
ZooAmerica’s Defenses and Response
ZooAmerica, an accredited facility within the Hersheypark complex, maintains multiple safety layers around its exhibits, including perimeter fencing, clear signage, and barriers designed to keep visitors at a safe distance. The wolves – a male named Twister and sisters Hazel and Freya – remain in their habitat, with the involved animal confirmed up to date on vaccinations.[2]…