A black bear breached Walt Disney World on Monday, leading the Central Florida attraction to temporarily shut down wide swaths of its Magic Kingdom theme park, including Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland.
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When reports came in about a bear spotted in a tree near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, it was almost as though one of the characters from the Country Bear Jamboree — a Frontierland favorite — had come to life. Or perhaps Br’er Bear from the now-defunct Splash Mountain was back in his old haunts.
Walt Disney World said law enforcement and biologists from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) were on the scene to capture and transport the bear. FWC reported it had recovered the animal around 2:45 p.m. and planned to relocate it “in or around the Ocala National Forest.”
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“In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own,” the FWC said. But the potential of a bear encountering crowds at a popular theme park called for a different strategy.
According to local reports, at least 10 attractions were marked as temporarily closed in the My Disney Experience app Monday morning, including fan favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain. In an afternoon update, Walt Disney World said while working with the FWC it made the decision to reopen Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland.
Black bears are native to Florida and not uncommon in Orlando, even in metropolitan areas. While the FWC estimates that there are approximately 1,200 black bears in Central Florida, habitat loss due to increasing development, along with successful conservation efforts, have meant that bear sightings in public spaces have become more common over the last decade.
The Florida FWC briefly reopened bear hunting in four areas in 2015 after a 20-year hiatus, but the hunting season has been closed since then. Bear sightings are even more common this time of year.
“During the fall, bears are more active as they search for food to pack on fat reserves for the winter,” the FWC said in a statement. “This particular bear was likely moving through the area searching for food.”
Magic Kingdom, known for its iconic Cinderella’s Castle landmark, is one of the four theme parks that, alongside two water parks, make up Walt Disney World near Orlando.
Travel better with news, tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go. In your inbox, Thursdays.
When reports came in about a bear spotted in a tree near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, it was almost as though one of the characters from the Country Bear Jamboree — a Frontierland favorite — had come to life. Or perhaps Br’er Bear from the now-defunct Splash Mountain was back in his old haunts.
Walt Disney World said law enforcement and biologists from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) were on the scene to capture and transport the bear. FWC reported it had recovered the animal around 2:45 p.m. and planned to relocate it “in or around the Ocala National Forest.”
Disney is wildly expensive. Superfans gave their 7 best tips to save.
“In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own,” the FWC said. But the potential of a bear encountering crowds at a popular theme park called for a different strategy.
According to local reports, at least 10 attractions were marked as temporarily closed in the My Disney Experience app Monday morning, including fan favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain. In an afternoon update, Walt Disney World said while working with the FWC it made the decision to reopen Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland.
Black bears are native to Florida and not uncommon in Orlando, even in metropolitan areas. While the FWC estimates that there are approximately 1,200 black bears in Central Florida, habitat loss due to increasing development, along with successful conservation efforts, have meant that bear sightings in public spaces have become more common over the last decade.
The Florida FWC briefly reopened bear hunting in four areas in 2015 after a 20-year hiatus, but the hunting season has been closed since then. Bear sightings are even more common this time of year.
“During the fall, bears are more active as they search for food to pack on fat reserves for the winter,” the FWC said in a statement. “This particular bear was likely moving through the area searching for food.”
Magic Kingdom, known for its iconic Cinderella’s Castle landmark, is one of the four theme parks that, alongside two water parks, make up Walt Disney World near Orlando.
