HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania couple is facing child endangerment charges following an incident where their 18-month-old son crawled into a restricted area at ZooAmerica and was injured by a wolf, according to Derry Township Police.
The incident unfolded Saturday just before noon when the parents moved approximately 25 to 30 feet away from their toddler to sit on nearby benches, where they became focused on their mobile devices, police reported. During this time, the young child managed to crawl through a gap in the wooden perimeter barrier surrounding the wolf exhibit.
Once inside the restricted zone, the toddler reached the chain-link enclosure and inserted his hand through the fencing. Police said the wolf’s response appeared instinctive when it grabbed the child’s hand with its mouth.
“From the injuries sustained, it appears as though one of the wolves in the enclosure instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its mouth. Several bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away,” police stated.
ZooAmerica officials described the wolf’s behavior as investigative rather than aggressive, explaining that the contact was “brief, investigatory behavior consistent with how wild canines interact with unfamiliar objects in their environment.” The zoo noted that wolves naturally explore new items by using their mouths, similar to how humans use their hands.
The child sustained what zoo officials characterized as “minor, surface-level” injuries. The wolf involved remains healthy, current on vaccinations, and continues to be housed in its exhibit.
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo explained that filing criminal charges required careful deliberation. “We looked at a lot of factors — the age of the child, the circumstances, how diligent you have to be because it’s potentially dangerous,” Chardo explained during a telephone conversation. “We looked at it closely,” he added.
The parents, residents of Lititz, Pennsylvania, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the misdemeanor charges later this month. Legal representation for the father has been contacted for comment, though it remains unclear who is representing the mother.
Derry Township Police Chief Garth W. Warner emphasized the dangers of inadequate supervision. “There are plenty of opportunities for a child of that age to hurt themselves on things,” Warner observed. “Let alone, be left alone, essentially by themselves, where they could get themselves into a situation like this child did.”
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park operates as part of the larger Hershey entertainment complex, which includes the famous chocolate-themed amusement park. According to the zoo’s website, three gray wolves are currently housed at the facility.
This marks the second notable child safety incident at Hersheypark within the past year. Last summer, a lost child wandering on monorail tracks required rescue by a park visitor who climbed onto a building and jumped onto the rails to reach the boy, who was ultimately unharmed and returned to his family.
