Parents charged after toddler injured at Hershey's ZooAmerica wolf enclosure

HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) — The parents of a toddler who entered the outer fence 
at ZooAmerica’s wolf enclosure in Hershey are now facing charges.

Carrie Sortor, 43, and Stephen Wilson, 61, both of Lititz, were charged 
Sunday by Derry Township Police with one count each of misdemeanor 
endangering the welfare of children.

According to police, they are the parents of the 17-month-old child and 
had both walked 25-to-30 feet away from the child.

The child then crawled through a small opening in the outer fence of the 
enclosure and reached the inner metal fence. One of the wolves, police 
said, “instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its 
mouth.”

“This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was 
not a sign of aggression,” a spokesperson for Hershey Entertainment and 
Resorts said in a statement to abc27 News on Saturday. “The child was 
never inside the wolf’s enclosure.”

Several bystanders intervened to pull the child away and the parents, 
police said, appeared “to be paying attention to their cellphones when 
they noticed the commotion at the wolf enclosure.”

The child suffered minor injuries in the incident.

“The safety of our guests and the wellbeing of our animals are always our 
highest priorities,” the HERCO spokesperson added. “Our habitats are 
designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and 
barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to 
remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all 
times.”

Charges were filed against the two parents, Derry Township Police said in 
consultation with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office.

Derry Township Police asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident, 
assisted the child, has video, or other information to call Sergeant 
Dennis Eckenrode at 717-534-2202 or email [email protected].

ZooAmerica, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums facility, has three gray 
wolves: a male, Twister, and two sisters, Hazel and Freya. It is home to 
more than 200 animals and is connected to Hersheypark.

https://www.abc27.com/local-news/parents-charged-after-toddler-injured-at-
hersheys-zooamerica-wolf-enclosure/