A trip to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida could include all types of sightings, from Aladdin and Ariel to a black bear hiding in a tree.
That last one is… less common, but it did happen this Monday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Biologists from the commission helped capture the adult female bear, said a news release provided to Audacy.
“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,” the release explained.
A chopper from WESH 2 was overhead as FWC experts searched for the Disney park bear – you can see video of the capture here. It didn’t get a chance to get on any rides, and many areas of the park were shut down as the search commenced.
“Visitors using the park app saw some areas unavailable, and others that were open had significant wait times just after park opening,” WESH 2 reported.
CNN, citing the app, reported “nearly a dozen” attractions were closed due to the bear’s break-in.
Swiss Family Treehouse, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island, Walt Disney World Railroad, Liberty Square Riverboat, Hall of Presidents and Haunted Mansion were all closed to the public at around 11:17 a.m. ET, “according to an official app screenshot shared with CNN by Craig Williams, executive producer at wdwinfo.com.”
Disney eventually said it was reopening Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom after consulting with state experts, per WESH 2.
Bears are more active in Florida as autumn rolls around, said the FWC. At this time of year, they’re searching for food to pack on fat reserves for the winter months. This week, the commission also issued a warning about black bears.
“During the fall, bears start consuming more calories to pack on fat reserves for the winter, even if they are not hibernating as long as they do in colder climates,” it said. “Adult bears need to consume approximately 20,000 calories a day during the fall, meaning they are more active while in search of food, including female bears with cubs. If given the opportunity, bears will take advantage of easy meals from things like unsecured trash cans and bird feeders.”
People in the area are advised to never approach bears, never feed bears and to keep food and garbage secure.