Bear's surprise visit to Magic Kingdom ends with successful relocation away from Disney World

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Posted: Monday September 18, 2023 3:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has successfully captured an adult female black bear from inside the Magic Kingdom.

The bear, which climbed a tree near Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland, caused three of the Magic Kingdom's lands to remain closed for the morning as teams attempted to move the bear to safety.

This afternoon, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said they captured the bear in a backstage area near the railroad tracks behind "it's a small world."

The commission says the bear will be relocated to an area near the Ocala National Forest, about 80 miles from Walt Disney World.

Most of the Magic Kingdom had reopened by 12:30pm, but the Walt Disney World Railroad remains closed as of 3pm.

Magic Kingdom has returned to normal operations following the bear's removal

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Jambo DadOct 25, 2023

The rumor that it as actually Chapek in a fuzzy sweater has been denied.

SingleRiderOct 24, 2023

I didn’t realize it either. After you posted that it took me a minute to get my bear-ings on how long it had been.

Vinnie MacOct 23, 2023

Holy cow this was already a month ago??? 😭

DobergeOct 23, 2023

My favorite part is the mention of Disney cast members stationed at end of rail road tracks and armed with air horns, paintball guns, and *slingshots.* 😄

DCBakerOct 23, 2023

WKMG News 6 has obtained video of state wildlife officials trying to capture the black bear at Magic Kingdom.

DrdcmSep 21, 2023

This made me spit out my coffee. Good job!

zbaby2Sep 21, 2023

Disney should leave Florida and relocate to Puerto Rico. A good place to run their cruise operation from.

LAKid53Sep 20, 2023

Like these hideous things?

LAKid53Sep 20, 2023

Or the French fries guests constantly feed the ducks.

Smiley/OCDSep 20, 2023

So was the bear…

Smiley/OCDSep 20, 2023

ALLIGATOR SPOTTED IN NEW JERSEY PARK FINALLY CAPTURED AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK By Eyewitness News Friday, September 8, 2023 A concerned citizen called the police Thursday night to report that they spotted an alligator in the roadway near Second Avenue in Piscataway. Darla Miles has the story. PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (WABC) -- An alligator that caused a New Jersey park to close last week has been captured. A concerned citizen called the police Thursday night to report that they spotted an alligator in the roadway near Second Avenue in Piscataway. When authorities responded, Piscataway Patrol Officer Ian Paglia put a leash around the 4-foot-long gator's neck. "The officers were able to kind of surround and corral it, one officer was able to put his foot on top of the head of the alligator to keep its mouth from opening," said Deputy Chief Michelle Pilch. "They used a dog snare that we have here, wrapped it around the alligator's neck." Like all captured fugitives, the gator was placed in the back seat of the patrol car and taken to the station house and placed behind bars. It was eventually relocated to the Cape May County Zoo. The Middlesex Borough Police Department first received a report of a small alligator seen at Victor Crowell Park last Wednesday afternoon.