The most magical place on earth got a little crazy on Monday when a black bear was sighted at Magic Kingdom causing temporary closures throughout the theme park.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it was aware of the black bear, which was reported to be in a tree at Magic Kingdom in the early afternoon. The agency said it was working on capturing and relocating the wild animal.
“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 and are relocating the bear out of the park to an area in or around the Ocala National Forest,” FWC said.
FWC added that the animal was an adult female.
Around 1:30 p.m., aerial footage of the bear was captured by WESH 2 News, which showed the bear in a white tarp being carried by multiple law enforcement agents coming out of a wooded area.
In an update after 2 p.m. ET, the FWC said its biologists with the agency’s Bear Management Program and FWC law enforcement officers safely captured the adult female bear.
“Staff have captured the animal and are relocating the bear out of the park to an area in or around the Ocala National Forest,” FWC said in the update.
The bear was likely in search of food ahead of the winter hibernation season, the FWC said.
Temporarily closed attractions in Magic Kingdom included Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Hall of Presidents, Liberty Square Riverboat, A Pirate’s Adventure, Tom Sawyer Island, Walt Disney World Railroad including Fantasyland, Frontierland and Main Street.
Later in the afternoon, Walt Disney World said it was reopening Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park during the bear search.
During the bear sighting the My Disney Experience app showed long wait times until a “Temporarily Closed” status was given to the theme park’s attractions.
Were you at Magic Kingdom on Monday when the black bear was spotted? Let us know in the comments!
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