BAY LAKE, Fla. – A bear sighting at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park on Monday led to the closure of several of the park’s rides and attractions, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
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The FWC said an adult female black bear was seen in a tree at the Magic Kingdom on Monday morning.
“Biologists with FWC’s Bear Management Program as well as FWC law enforcement officers safely captured the adult female bear,” an FWC spokeswoman said. “In most cases it is best for bears to be given room and to move on their own, but in this situation staff have captured the animal and are moving the bear out of the park to an area in or around the Ocala National Forest.”
The agency said bears are more active during the fall when they look for food to pack on fat reserves for the winter.
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“This particular bear was likely moving through the area looking for food,” the spokeswoman said.
More than a dozen rides and attractions were closed Monday during the observation, according to Disney’s app.
A company spokesman said the park has since fully reopened.
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“We are working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and have made the decision to reopen Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park,” the spokesperson said.
The FWC said if you see a bear in the wild, give it space and never approach or feed it.
If you ever see one that is threatening, sick or injured, call the FWC at 888-404-3922.
Read: Seminole County man injured after fall after bear attacks dog
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