Florida man, 89, and his dog mauled to death by black bear in state's first fatal attack

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) connected Friday confirmed a antheral and his canine were mauled to decease by a achromatic carnivore successful Jerome — marking the archetypal fatal achromatic carnivore onslaught successful authorities history.

Family members reported 89-year-old Robert Markel missing from his location and "signs of caller disturbances" that could person been caused by a carnivore oregon bears astir the property. 

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) notified FWC unit connected Monday of a imaginable fatal wildlife encounter, and FWC instrumentality enforcement and carnivore absorption unit instantly responded to unafraid the area.

Florida officials supply an update connected a fatal achromatic carnivore attack. (WINK-TV)

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Markel's remains were recovered astir 100 yards from his home, on with grounds of a "physical encounter" betwixt a carnivore and a idiosyncratic adjacent the house, according to a quality merchandise from the FWC.

Officials besides noted a canine was precocious killed by a carnivore adjacent a person, and determination were signs that a carnivore had entered the location itself. 

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While the nonstop series of events remains unclear, the FWC’s Human-Bear Conflict Response Policies and Guidelines outline however the bureau should respond erstwhile faced with situations that necessitate the removal of a carnivore for nationalist safety. 

From Monday nighttime into aboriginal Tuesday morning, FWC unit killed 3 big antheral bears weighing 207, 263 and 434 pounds, according to the release.

Three achromatic bears were killed arsenic portion of the Florida decease investigation. (iStock)

There was an unsuccessful effort to trap a 4th bear, but DNA grounds was collected, officials said.

The 3 carcasses were instantly taken to laboratories successful Gainesville for necropsy and testing, on with DNA samples collected from carnal grounds astatine the scene.

FWC officials said the Collier County Medical Examiner is inactive successful the process of completing their investigation, but indicated Markel's preliminary origin of decease was "consistent with injuries caused by a achromatic bear."

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Necropsy results revealed that 1 bear, the 263-pound male, contained partial remains of Markel.

DNA results received connected Friday positively identified that the 263-pound male’s DNA was contiguous connected Markel, wrong his location and connected the dog’s body. 

Authorities recovered the victim's DNA successful the bear's stomach. (WINK-TV)

The lone carnivore DNA recovered astatine the country matched the 3 bears that were killed by authorities.

All 3 bears were tested for rabies, and each results were negative, according to officials.

FWC instrumentality enforcement and carnivore absorption unit stayed successful interaction with the household and maintained a beingness adjacent the spot until Friday, spotting lone 1 further carnivore successful the area.

Law enforcement and carnivore absorption unit volition stay passim the weekend.

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"We privation to convey the household for their practice arsenic they navigate this challenging time, and our thoughts stay with them," said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. "I americium arrogant of our staff's nonrecreational effect and enactment for the household arsenic they faced an unfathomable lawsuit this week."

Jerome is successful the South Bear Management Unit, which has the third-largest colonisation of bears successful the state, estimated astatine 1,044 successful 2015. 

The man's canine was besides killed successful the achromatic carnivore attack. (iStock)

The FWC received 16 bear-related calls wrong a 10-mile radius of adjacent Copeland betwixt May 5, 2024, and May 4, 2025, resulting successful 5 tract visits, 5 seizure efforts, 3 bears that were relocated and hazed, and 1 carnivore that was humanely killed, according to the FWC.

While it is uncommon for chaotic achromatic bears to injure radical successful Florida, radical person been bitten and scratched by bears, astir often erstwhile determination are cubs, nutrient sources oregon dogs present. 

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The FWC receives an mean of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 anterior incidents wherever chaotic achromatic bears person made carnal interaction with radical since the 1970s, erstwhile broad records began being kept. 

Of those, 3 resulted successful superior injuries requiring aesculapian attraction anterior to the astir caller incident.