Story perspectives

Parents Charged After Toddler Enters Wolf Enclosure at Zoo

4/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

Derry Township Police charged Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson of Lititz, Pennsylvania, with endangering the welfare of children.
The 18-month-old crawled under a fence into a wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park.
Bystanders pulled the child away while the parents were about 30 yards away on their phones.
Zoo operators said the injuries were minor and that the incident matched natural animal behavior.

History

Historical Context

Following several high-profile incidents involving children at amusement parks, including a 2016 case where a child fell into a gorilla enclosure, the U.S. tightened child safety regulations in 2013. The National Park Service reported over 200 incidents of children entering animal enclosures, prompting stricter guidelines. These events underscore the ongoing need for improved parental supervision and safety measures in public spaces with wildlife.

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Story summary

Derry Township Police charged Carrie Sortor and Stephen Wilson of Lititz, Pennsylvania, with endangering the welfare of children.
The 18-month-old crawled under a fence into a wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park.
Bystanders pulled the child away while the parents were about 30 yards away on their phones.
Zoo operators said the injuries were minor and that the incident matched natural animal behavior.

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