New bill would create misdemeanor for entering zoo habitats
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Legislation introduced recently in the state House of Representatives would make it a crime to enter an animal enclosure at a zoo in Pennsylvania.
Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Paoli, has introduced legislation (HB 2857) that would create a new misdemeanor charge of unlawful entry into animal enclosure. The charge would be used if someone enters a enters a locked or restricted area in an animal enclosure or climbs over, under, through or otherwise bypasses a fence, wall, moat, gate or other protective structure designed to separate the public from an animal enclosure. The charge would be a third-degree misdemeanor, with the charge being upgraded if the violation causes the evacuation of visitors or emergency response by law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, animal control personnel or staff, the offense or if the violation results in injury, death or substantial risk of injury or death to an animal, employee, emergency responder or member of the public, when the charge would become a third-degree felony.
"Pennsylvania's criminal trespass law prohibits individuals from unlawfully entering buildings and other occupied structures but does not specifically address unauthorized entry into zoo animal enclosures," Shusterman wrote. "In recent years, several states have introduced legislation to explicitly prohibit zoo trespassing in response to a rise in incidents, fueled by social media, that have endangered both animals and the public. Unfortunately, at least once such incident occurred in our Commonwealth just last year when a social media influencer entered an elephant enclosure."
The incident Shusterman referred to took place in September 2025 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium when a 19-year-old Ohio influencer jumped a 3-foot fence into a restricted elephant enclosure while his companion filmed the stunt. An endangered elephant charged and rammed the gate inches away from the influencer, who scrambled back over the fence and posted the video to Instagram. Felony charges including causing or risking catastrophe, reckless endangerment and cruelty to animals were filed while the companion faced conspiracy charges.
The Pittsburgh incident isn't the only recent incident involving influencers. Two American men in their 20s broke into the enclosure of Punch the Macaque, a monkey associated with memecoin cryptocurrency promotions, in May 2026 while another incident in May 2026 resulted in charges being filed against a man in Bangkok who was caught climbing into an enclosure of Moo Deng, the adorable pygmy hippo who became a social media sensation.
Shusterman's legislation is similar to a bill introduced in Texas that was supported by the San Antonio Zoo. The San Antonio Zoo is joining wildlife refuges statewide in lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation stiffening penalties for people who break into animal enclosures, though the Texas legislation would create a more serious charge. Texas House Bill 1720 and Senate Bill 2969 would make entering a zoo enclosure -- or blatant disregard for a zoo animal's well-being by interrupting its eating or mating patterns -- a state jail felony. That charge would be upgraded to a third-degree felony if the animal is injured during the foray into its exhibit.
"As the founder and co-chair of our General Assembly's Animal Protection Caucus, I am concerned about the risks and harm to animals and zoo property created by this reckless behavior," Shusterman wrote in her co-sponsorship memorandum. "To provide additional deterrents, I plan to introduce legislation creating the offense of unlawfully entering a zoo animal enclosure. The legislation would also require courts to order restitution for costs incurred by the facility, including animal recovery, veterinary care, emergency response, enclosure repairs, and operational disruptions. This legislation will strengthen protection of both our animal friends and the public by deterring dangerous conduct and ensuring that individuals who unlawfully enter zoo enclosures are held accountable for the harm and expenses they cause."