Parents Face Child Endangerment Charges After Toddler Enters Wolf Enclosure
Parents of a toddler have been formally charged with endangering the welfare of children after their child managed to squeeze through a fence at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo and made direct contact with a wolf. The incident, which resulted in minor injuries to the child, occurred at ZooAmerica, which is part of the sprawling Hersheypark entertainment complex in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Distracted Parents and a Dangerous Situation
According to a detailed statement from Derry Township Police, evidence indicates that both parents walked approximately 25 to 30 feet away from their child to a nearby seating area with benches. Police reported that the parents appeared to be paying attention to their cellphones when they noticed the unfolding situation shortly before noon on Saturday. The child, identified as a year-and-a-half-old boy, crawled through a small opening in a wooden barrier perimeter fence, entering a restricted area near the wolf exhibit.
The child then reached a chain-link fence enclosure and was injured after placing a hand through it. Police stated, "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." The parents, residents of nearby Lititz, Pennsylvania, are now awaiting a preliminary hearing later this month on the misdemeanor charge.
Official Statements and Legal Considerations
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo emphasized that the decision to file a criminal charge was carefully considered. "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 in a phone interview. "We looked at it closely." Messages seeking comment were left with the father's lawyer; it remains unclear who represents the mother in this case.
Derry Township Police Chief Garth W. Warner expressed concern over the parents' distracted attention, though he was uncertain exactly how long they were not supervising the child. "There are plenty of opportunities for a child of that age to hurt themselves on things," Warner noted. "Let alone be left alone, essentially by themselves, where they could get themselves into a situation like this child did."
Zoo's Response and Animal Behavior Explanation
A spokesperson for ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park provided a statement clarifying the events. The zoo confirmed that the boy crawled under an exterior perimeter fence and put his hand through "the primary metal enclosure surrounding the wolf habitat." The statement elaborated, "A wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand. This was not a forceful or aggressive action, but rather a brief, investigatory behavior consistent with how wild canines interact with unfamiliar objects in their environment."
The zoo further explained that wolves use their mouths much as humans use hands, often checking out unfamiliar objects by mouthing them. They assured that the boy’s injuries were "minor, surface-level," and confirmed that the animal involved is up-to-date on vaccinations and remains in the exhibit. ZooAmerica's website notes it houses three gray wolves.
Context and Previous Incidents at Hersheypark
This incident is not the first safety concern at Hersheypark. Last summer, the park made headlines when a lost boy was found wandering on a monorail line. A park visitor heroically climbed onto a building and jumped onto the rails to rescue the child, who was unharmed and later reunited with his family. These events highlight ongoing challenges in managing safety at large entertainment venues.
Hersheypark, famous for its chocolate-themed amusement attractions, continues to operate ZooAmerica as part of its extensive complex. The park has not released additional comments beyond the zoo's statement regarding the recent wolf enclosure incident.
