Families expecting a fun Saturday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium instead found themselves being evacuated after a bomb and active shooter threat forced the zoo to clear out.
Zoo officials said the threat came in around 2:18 p.m. through their security dispatch system. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office was notified immediately and arrived within about ten minutes.
The zoo said all guests, staff, and animals were safe, but it closed for the rest of the day as law enforcement investigated.
THE DAY BEFORE: TOLEDO ZOO ALSO EVACUATED
This wasn’t an isolated scare.
On Friday, the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium was hit with a nearly identical bomb and active shooter threat.
The Toledo Police Department responded quickly, and the zoo was evacuated as a precaution.
That one had an especially bitter twist.
Multiple school field trips were underway, meaning children expecting a zoo day were instead hurried out during an emergency evacuation.
The zoo was later cleared and evening events were allowed to continue.
THIS IS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE TOO
Similar incidents were also reported at:
- Louisville Zoo
- Phoenix Zoo
Which raises the obvious question:
WHY ZOOS?
Why target zoos?
Why frighten families, children, teachers, and staff in places built for education and fun?
Experts say incidents like this often fall under what’s known as swatting.
WHAT IS SWATTING?
Swatting is when someone makes a fake emergency report—such as a bomb threat or active shooter call—to trigger a massive police response.
The goals can include:
- Causing panic
- Shutting down businesses or attractions
- Wasting police and EMS resources
- Traumatizing victims
- Getting attention online
- Copycat behavior
Even when no real attacker exists, the fear is real.
THE REAL DAMAGE
A fake threat can still cause:
- Stampedes or injuries during evacuations
- Terrified children
- Lost business revenue
- Exhausted police resources
- Ongoing fear long after the scene is cleared
OHIO ANGLE: A GROWING CONCERN
With both major Ohio zoos hit back-to-back, officials will likely be asking whether these were coordinated copycat threats or part of a larger trend.
For families in Columbus and Toledo, the result was the same:
A normal day at the zoo turned into chaos.
Could this be more than a prank? Security experts have warned that repeated swatting-style attacks can also be used by extremist groups, organized criminals, or foreign actors looking to disrupt public services, create panic, or test how quickly police and emergency systems respond. Even when no real bomb or shooter exists, the caller may be gathering valuable information about evacuation times, communication breakdowns, staffing levels, and law enforcement response. That means what looks like a hoax on the surface can still serve a much darker purpose.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Law enforcement typically investigates:
- Phone records
- Internet routing data
- Repeat threat patterns
- Connections to threats in other states
Because these calls may sound like jokes to the caller.
To the people running for the exits, they’re anything but funny.