COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio, was evacuated Saturday afternoon after a call about an active shooter and bomb threat came in at approximately 2:20 p.m. local time. All staff and visitors were safely evacuated, law enforcement found no suspicious items, and the zoo remained closed for the rest of the day, according to the local sheriff's office, which said it believed the report was a swatting call but treated it as an active threat.

Employees at the zoo had conducted a safety drill the previous week and a Saturday morning exercise to prepare for an emergency evacuation following similar threats at other zoos. Zoo president and CEO Tom Schmid addressed the situation in a statement.

"This is part of life now around the country, around the world. And so we have to make sure we're vigilant," Schmid said.

At least five zoos across the U.S. received reports of an active shooter or bomb threat since Friday, and all facilities were cleared by local authorities. No explosives or other real dangers were found in the latest series of swatting incidents. Threats were also called in to zoos in Tennessee and Florida.

The Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio, was evacuated Friday morning after a bomb threat call about possible shots fired around 10:30 a.m. No shooters or bombs were found, no injuries were reported, and no arrests were made. The Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Kentucky, was briefly evacuated Friday morning after a bomb threat reported around 9 a.m.; police swept the area, gave the all-clear, and reopened the gate about two hours later. The Phoenix Zoo in Phoenix, Arizona, was evacuated Friday around noon after a caller claimed there was a bomb, with more than 2,000 guests and 500 staff evacuated before a police sweep found no explosive device.

On Sunday, the Akron Zoo in Akron, Ohio, received a bomb threat; police swept the facility, evacuated all visitors, and zoo managers closed for the rest of the day. As of 1:40 p.m., police were still investigating. Police were also stationed outside the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Sunday as visitors were evacuated due to a threat.

The FBI considers swatting an increasing national problem and has logged thousands of incidents since creating a national database in 2023. Targets have included schools, public institutions, and celebrities. Swatting calls can cost thousands of dollars per incident, endanger first responders and the public, and can lead to federal charges.

"Swatting is sometimes conducted as an act of revenge or a prank. It is a serious crime that has potentially dangerous consequences. Law enforcement personnel have been wounded responding to swatting incidents, and victims have been treated for injuries such as heart attacks as a result of such events," the FBI said.

Federal prosecutors announced charges last week against a juvenile for a series of swatting calls aimed at universities and other institutions in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in August 2025. The defendant identified as a member of the cybercriminal group "Purgatory," according to prosecutors.