Everyone knows Winnie the Pooh, Baloo, and of course the bears from the Country Bear Jamboree, but a new bear may be trying to join the Disney family.
That black bear was found Monday afternoon in Orlando, Fla. It was also seen at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, causing the temporary closure of several parts of the theme park.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified that the bear was spotted in a tree in the park.
“Biologists from FWC’s Bear Management Program, as well as FWC law enforcement officers, safely captured the adult, female bear,” an FWC spokesperson told The Times in a statement. “In most cases, it’s best to give the bears space and move about on their own, but given this situation, staff have captured the animal and are relocating the bear outside the park to Ocala National or the surrounding area. the forest jungle.”
The spokesperson noted that bears are more active during the fall because they want to build up their fat reserves in preparation for winter hibernation. “This particular bear was probably passing through the area in search of food,” the representative said.
According to the My Disney Experience app, which monitors status and wait times for rides across Disney parks, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise and Thunder Mountain Railroad were temporarily closed. Overall, the Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland sections of the parks were closed as a result of the incident but have since reopened, according to The Washington Post.
Walt Disney World Resort representatives did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.
This is not the first time wildlife has caused a scene on Disney property.
In 2016, a 2-year-old boy was attacked and killed on the beach at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa near Orlando. Since the incident, Disney has removed more than 250 alligators from its Florida properties.
In 1986, an 8-year-old boy was attacked by an alligator while on vacation with his family at Disney World’s Fort Wilderness in Florida. He was injured but survived the incident.
In much lighter circumstances earlier this year, a squirrel was captured on video crashing Disney World’s Carousel of Progress ride in comical fashion.