A wild bear that wandered into Disney World and forced half of Magic Kingdom to shut down probably just wanted a snack: officials
Kim Renfro/INSIDER
- A wild black bear was spotted at Walt Disney World on Monday.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission "safely captured" and relocated it.
- The disturbance temporarily closed a number of rides in Disney's Magic Kingdom.
A wild black bear wandered into Walt Disney World earlier Monday but has since been "safely captured," officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Disney World said in a statement shared with Insider.
More likely than not, the female bear was likely looking for something to eat when she made her way onto the park grounds, the statement said.
"The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is aware of a black bear reported in a tree on Walt Disney World property at the Magic Kingdom. Biologists with the FWC's Bear Management Program, as well as FWC Law Enforcement officers, have safely captured the adult, female bear," the statement said.
It continued: "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."
Officials said that usually it's best to give bears space so they can "move along on their own," but in this case, the capture and the relocation of the wild bear was necessary. They are moving the bear out of the theme park to an "area in or around the Ocala National Forest" — about 90 miles north of Disney World.
According to one Disney employee who was working at EPCOT Monday and spoke to Insider, the park had to shut down Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square while the bear was on the premises — three smaller areas that make up parts of the larger Magic Kingdom park.
Multiple fan-favorite rides were closed until the bear was captured at around 1 p.m. local time including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, and Haunted Mansion, Fox 35 Orlando reported.
Variety reported that the bear was first seen in a tree near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.