A black bear was spotted at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park in Florida on Monday, resulting in several areas and a number of attractions being temporarily shut down.
The adult, female bear created a brief period of abnormality when it was seen in a tree near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland — and it wasn’t one of the famous animatronic Country Bears.
The good news is that the bear was safely captured, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own, but given this situation, staff have captured the animal,” the commission said in a statement.
Disney reopened Adventureland, Frontierland and Liberty Square while authorities worked to capture the bear, which was relocated to “an area in or around the Ocala National Forest,” located northwest of Orlando.
“The lines got really long really fast, it was almost 200 minutes just to ride like Peter Pan,” one guest said, in response to the closed areas.
Guests were told the areas were being delayed due to “technical reasons.”
Magic Kingdom is going THROUGH it this morning. Only Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Main Street U.S.A. are open to guests while the remainder of the park is closed. pic.twitter.com/viMzLa40uo
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) September 18, 2023
The bear was “chemically immobilized so that staff could safely capture her before relocation,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
Video footage from WESH captured the moment the bear was removed:
UPDATE: Video from the WESH 2 News chopper shows the bear being located/captured at Magic Kingdom.
More video from @WESH: https://t.co/JCq4zuIngy pic.twitter.com/2PawWe8I5P
— Alex Farnworth (@AlexFarnworth) September 18, 2023
“During the fall, bears are more active as they search for food to pack on fat reserves for the winter. This particular bear was likely moving through the area searching for food,” the commission added.
JUST IN: @MyFWC confirms reports of a Black bear in a tree at @WaltDisneyWorld’s Magic Kingdom. Biologists and FWC officers are on scene…parts of Magic Kingdom are temporarily closed
@WESH pic.twitter.com/QCfb2YDwNh
— Christina Watkins (@CWatkinsWESH) September 18, 2023
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Author: Tom Tillison
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