PENNSYLVANIA — Two parents are facing charges after a toddler was injured in an incident involving a wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica, according to authorities.
Police in Derry Township said the incident happened Saturday when a child crawled through a small opening in a perimeter fence, reached a secondary metal fence surrounding the enclosure and put their hand through.
Investigators said one of the wolves inside the enclosure “instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its mouth.” Bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away.
Authorities said the child suffered injuries but was not fully inside the enclosure.
Police identified the parents as 43-year-old Carrie Sortor and 61-year-old Stephen Wilson, both of Lititz. Officials said they were sitting about 25 to 30 feet away from the 17-month-old and appeared to be looking at their phones at the time of the incident.
Following an investigation, the Derry Township Police Department and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office charged both parents with one count of endangering the welfare of children.
Officials with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts said in a statement that the child’s injuries were minor and that the wolf’s behavior was consistent with natural animal instincts.
Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has video to contact police as the investigation continues.
