The Saint Louis Zoo was targeted twice by false emergency threats as a nationwide wave of swatting incidents hit zoos and aquariums this spring. The threats, reported in May and June, were treated as credible at the time, but investigations found no actual danger to guests, staff, or animals.
The zoo worked with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, zoo leadership, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and other local Zoo-Museum District institutions as investigators assessed the calls. A zoo spokesperson told FOX 2 that guest, staff, and animal safety remains the institution’s highest priority.
The incidents did not come as the zoo was starting from scratch on security. The Saint Louis Zoo says it has highly trained security personnel on campus around the clock, explosives and weapons detection dogs, and an Evolv screening system at both entrances, a setup introduced in fall 2024, according to the Saint Louis Zoo.
A National Swatting Wave Has Hit Zoos From Florida To Ohio
The St. Louis threats were part of a broader pattern that has forced evacuations, closures, and police searches at zoos in places including Phoenix, Denver, Miami, Louisville, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee. The Associated Press reported that the recent calls included alleged bomb threats and active-shooter claims, but searches found no explosives or other real dangers.
Hoodline previously documented the same national swatting scare after a hoax call rattled the Detroit Zoo. The latest incidents have disrupted family visits while forcing public safety agencies and animal-care teams to respond as if every threat could be real.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has worked with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to assess the credibility of threats and coordinate appropriate responses. Its safety committee issued initial 2026 guidance telling facilities to treat threats as credible until law enforcement evaluates them, while keeping communication and crowd movement tightly controlled, as outlined in the association’s swatting response guidance.
The association’s president and chief executive, Daniel Ashe, said the apparent goal is to cause disruption and make people feel less safe in everyday life. The Saint Louis Zoo has not disclosed details about the threats or identified a suspect, and the association said it hopes the investigation ultimately leads to prosecution, FOX 2 reported.
Why Fake Calls Still Create Real Danger
Swatting is not treated as a harmless prank by federal authorities. The Associated Press reported that the FBI considers it a growing national problem because false calls can divert emergency resources, expose responders and bystanders to danger, and potentially lead to federal charges.
For the Saint Louis Zoo, the incidents underscored why a family attraction must prepare for emergencies that may be fabricated but can still trigger a very real police response. Zoo officials say they continue reviewing their action plans and revising them as needed.
