Florida's first recorded deadly bear attack kills 89-year-old man, dog
89-year-old Robert Markel's daughter called 911 to report a bear attacking his dog. When first responders arrived, they found her father's body near the dog's.
- An 89-year-old Florida man and his dog were killed in the state's first recorded fatal bear attack.
- Three bears were killed, and DNA testing is underway to determine if one was responsible.
- Florida's black bear population has rebounded significantly during the past decade, leading to increased human-bear encounters.
Florida officials confirmed an 89-year-old man and his dog were killed in the first fatal bear attack in the state's recorded history.
On the morning of May 5, authorities found Robert Markel and his dog deceased following a bear attack on Markel's property near Jerome, a small unincorporated community 30 miles east of Naples, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Markel and the dog were home alone at the time of the incident but were killed at separate times, said Roger Young, director of the state wildlife commission. Officials said Markel's daughter made the initial 911 call after seeing the bear attack Markel's dog.
"When there's a loss of life, we're all affected by this, we're very sorry that this occurred," commission spokesperson Tyson Matthews said at a news conference.
Since the attack, personnel with the wildlife commission set up traps in the area, installed cameras and killed three bears. DNA samples from the bears and collected at the scene have been sent to the University of Florida for testing. Officials won't know if they've found the bear responsible until results are confirmed, Young said.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we urge residents and visitors to continue to remain vigilant and avoid the area," the commission said in a statement. "Do not approach or attempt to track wildlife. Law enforcement and FWC personnel are continuing to monitor bear activity and ensure public safety."
Bear attack is the second mauling in Florida this year
The May 5 attack was the second bear mauling in Florida this year, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. While state data references black bear attacks, authorities have not confirmed the type of bear involved in the Jerome mauling.
Before the May 5 attack, the wildlife commission had not recorded a single fatal bear attack, Matthews said.
The last documented black bear attack in Collier County happened Jan. 9, 2018, when a black bear mauled a man in his yard.
The man was letting his dog outside when it growled and ran back inside. When the man stepped outside to see what scared the dog, one of three bears a few feet from his back door gashed his face with its massive paw. The wound left an eight-inch scar and other marks.
What type of bear killed Robert Markel and his dog?
State officials said they believe a black bear was responsible for the deadly mauling.
"Based on the ecology in the Florida and what we know, it was more than likely a black bear," said Matthews at a news conference.
The wildlife commission estimates there are 4,050 black bears in Florida. Grizzly and brown bears aren't known to live in the Sunshine State.
The commission is expected to announce the first official bear hunt in a decade to balance the state's rising population of black bears. The last black bear hunt occurred in 2015, but the planned 7-day hunt was shut down at the end of the second day after nearly 300 bears were killed.
Florida's booming black bear population
The Florida black bear, a distinct subspecies of the American black bear, was listed as a threatened species as recently as 2012. In the mid-1970s, the population had dwindled to about 500.
The rebound in bear population combined with a significant increase in the human population – more than tripling since 1970 – has led to an increase in human-bear encounters and public complaints.
The state's wildlife commission fielded more than 7,000 nuisance bear calls in 2023, up from 2,000 in 2016.
Contributing: James Call, Tallahassee Democrat; Mark Bickel, Samantha Neely, Kim Luciani, Cheryl McCloud, Thomas Rodriguez, Stacey Henson; Naples Daily News