Pennsylvania parents charged after their toddler stuck his hand in a wolf enclosure at Hershey’s ZooAmerica—distracted by phones 25-30 feet away.
What Happened
- Child: 17-month-old boy squeezed through wooden barrier, reached through metal fence; wolf “instinctively” bit his hand (minor injuries).
- Parents: Stephen Wilson, 61, and Carrie Sortor, 43, sat on bench, focused on cellphones. Bystanders intervened amid “commotion.”
- Zoo Statement: Multi-layer barriers/signage in place; child never entered enclosure. Natural wolf behavior, not aggressive.
Charges
- Both: Misdemeanor endangering welfare of a child.
- Derry Township PD; court dates unavailable.
Zoo expects close supervision—lesson in ditching distractions around kids and wildlife. Kid’s okay, but close call.
