‘Unsupervised’ toddler wounded by wolf after crawling into restricted area at Hersheypark’s zoo while parents were on phones
A toddler was injured at Hersheypark’s ZooAmerica on Saturday after crawling into an area off-limits to visitors, ending up with a wolf briefly biting their hand. Authorities said the child, just 17 months old, slipped under a perimeter fence and reached through a metal barrier enclosing the wolves’ habitat.
ZooAmerica representatives explained that the wolf’s behavior was typical for the species. The animal’s brief grip on the child’s hand reflected a natural “mouthing” instinct wolves use to investigate new objects in their environment, rather than an intent to harm.
“Wolves explore unfamiliar items by gently taking them into their mouths, which is part of normal investigatory behavior,” a zoo spokesperson said.
Bystanders quickly pulled the toddler away from the wolf. The child’s parents, Carrie Sortor, 43, and Stephen Wilson, 61, were reportedly seated on a nearby bench, approximately 25 to 30 feet away, distracted by their phones at the time. Police confirmed the couple did not realize their child had wandered into danger until they heard the commotion.
The child sustained only minor injuries. Following the incident, both parents were charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for endangering the welfare of a child, according to local reports.
ZooAmerica emphasized the safety measures in place at the facility, noting that multiple barriers, signage, and enclosures are designed to prevent visitors from entering restricted areas. “Guests are expected to stay within designated viewing zones and maintain close supervision of children at all times,” the zoo said.
The zoo, which spans 11 acres, is home to three wolves: a male named Twister and two female siblings, Hazel and Freya.
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