Taking a trip to the zoo with young children can be such a fun adventure. Seeing their faces light up when they spot their favorite animal up close is the kind of core memory parents never forget. We all have smartphones in our pockets that let us capture special moments and keep them forever. But those phones aren’t just cameras; they can also be huge distractions. We’ve all gotten lost in a doomscroll, and we admit it’s easy to do.
But when you’re at a zoo with a toddler and dangerous animals nearby, it’s best to keep your eyes up. A Pennsylvania couple learned that the hard way, and now they’re facing child endangerment charges.
A 17-month-old climbed into a wolf enclosure.
Carrie B. Sortor, 43, and Stephen J. B. Wilson, 61, took their 17-month-old son to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey on April 4, 2026. According to a news release from Derry Township Police, the toddler “squeezed through a small opening in a wooden barrier perimeter fence and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit, reaching the primary metal fence enclosure.” The child put his hands through the metal fence, and a wolf quickly approached. According to police, the wolf “instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its mouth.”
Several bystanders jumped in to help.
The incident obviously caused panic, and witnesses hurried to help the child. Police noted in the release that Sortor and Wilson were seated 25 to 30 feet away from the enclosure and not paying much attention to their son. They allegedly looked up from their phones after hearing commotion and realized their son was in danger.
Luckily, the tot suffered only a minor injury, but his parents face child endangerment charges, police shared in the release. They could each spend up to five years in prison if convicted and a $10,000 fine.
A spokesperson from the park spoke out about the incident.
“A wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand. This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression,” Quinn Bryner, public relations director for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, shared in a statement obtained by Lancaster Online.
Bryner added that the child never entered the actual wolf enclosure.
“The safety of our guests and the well-being of our animals are always our highest priorities. Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing,” the spokesperson explained in the statement. “Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.”
The story outraged parents who wondered how the heck the couple let this happen.
Every parent gets distracted from time to time, but bringing a toddler to the zoo means 100% focus on your child. Enraged adults sounded off in Fox 43’s comment section on social media.
“Where were the parents??? How can anyone leave an 18-month-old alone? I just don’t understand these people anymore! Who would do something like that??” someone wrote. “And if they think they will sue Zoo America, that would be so wrong on so many levels! If they would have stayed with the child none of this would have happened!”
“When you have little ones, your eyes should be on them constantly to keep them safe!!!! Your head should be on a constant swivel!!!!” another person added.
We can’t say that we necessarily disagree with one commenter, who wrote, “Maybe the wolves would do a better job raising that kid.”
Put the phone down and watch your kids, period. Sorry, not sorry. This could have been much worse.
