ZooAmerica Incident: Toddler Injured by Wolf After Entering Restricted Area
A 17-month-old toddler was injured at ZooAmerica, located within Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, after crawling into a restricted area near a wolf enclosure. The incident occurred when the child managed to get under a perimeter fence and approached a metal barrier surrounding the wolves' habitat. While the toddler's parents were reportedly distracted by their phones, the child stuck their hand through the fence, prompting a wolf to briefly take the child's fingers into its mouth. ZooAmerica officials described the wolf's behavior as typical investigatory behavior, which involves mouthing unfamiliar objects without intent to harm. The child sustained only minor injuries, and bystanders quickly intervened to remove the toddler from the situation. The parents, identified as Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson, have been charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for endangering the welfare of a child.