Toddler injured by wolf at Zoo America after crawling under a fence to enclosure

U.S. newsToddler injured by wolf at Zoo America after crawling under a fence to enclosureThe 18-month-old crawled through a perimeter fence and moved towards the wolf's enclosure, where they put their hand through the barrier, the zoo said. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00ZooAmerica, a wildlife park, at Hershey Park, in Hershey, Pa.ZooAmericaShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 5, 2026, 12:52 PM EDTBy Doha Madani and Emma CaughlanA child suffered minor injuries Saturday morning after crawling under a fence at Zoo America in Pennsylvania and approaching a wolf enclosure.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The unsupervised 18-month-old breached the park’s perimeter fencing and made their way to the wolves’ primary metal enclosure, according to a statement from Zoo America, where the child reached their hand through the barrier."A wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand," the zoo said. "This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression." At no point was the toddler ever inside the wolf's enclosure, according to Zoo America's review of the incident. The child and their family was not identified by Zoo America. Details on the injuries were not provided though it was described as minor by the zoo. Zoo America said the safety of its visitors is a top priority, but that guests are also expected to "remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.”"Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing," the zoo said. Zoo America is part of the Hersheypark amusement park in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The sprawling entertainment campus boasts at being the largest amusement park in the U.S. and includes its theme park, zoo, and boardwalk. The zoo is accredited by the Association Of Zoos And Aquariums and has a dedicated conservati...