At least four zoos and aquariums in the central U.S. were targeted by apparent "swatting" calls over the weekend, triggering evacuations and temporary closures. Louisville Zoo and the Toledo Zoo in Ohio were searched and cleared Friday, with Toledo remaining closed for the day. On Saturday, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg, Tenn.) and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Ohio) also received bomb-threat calls; no explosives were found. Officials say the incidents are being treated as hoaxes amid a wider pattern of false threats and stress the importance of vigilance and emergency drills.
Swatting Calls Force Evacuations at Four Central U.S. Zoos and Aquariums Over Weekend
At least four zoos and aquariums across the central United States were targeted over the weekend by apparent "swatting" calls that prompted evacuations and temporary closures as authorities treated each report as a potential public-safety threat.
What Happened
On Friday morning the Louisville Zoo was evacuated after an anonymous caller claimed there was a bomb on the premises. Officers conducted a full sweep of the grounds and soon issued an "all clear." Around the same time in Ohio, the Toledo Zoo received separate calls reporting a bomb threat and gunshots; tactical units, a bomb squad and K-9 teams responded and found no danger to the public, though the facility remained closed for the day.
On Saturday, two more animal facilities were targeted: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio. Both locations initiated safety procedures and thorough searches; no explosives or other threats were found.
Official Response and Context
Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, said staff swept the site and found "no traces of any bombs of any kind," adding that employees have recently practiced emergency drills to prepare for incidents like these.
"This is part of life now around the country, around the world. And so we have to make sure we’re vigilant," Schmid said.
Authorities are treating the calls as hoaxes consistent with a broader wave of false threats that have targeted schools, colleges and other institutions in recent months. Such incidents place stress on communities and emergency-response systems and can force costly closures and evacuations even when no actual danger exists.
Ongoing Advice
Officials advise visitors to follow instructions from onsite staff and law enforcement during any emergency response and to report suspicious activity. Institutions continue to review and rehearse safety protocols to reduce risk and minimize disruption from false or malicious threats.
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