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Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
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) on Friday confirmed a man and his dog were mauled to death by a black bear in Jerome — marking the first fatal black bear attack in state history. Family members reported 89-year-old Robert Markel missing from his home and "signs of recent disturbances" that could have been caused by a bear or bears around the property. The Collier County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) notified FWC staff on Monday of a possible fatal wildlife encounter, and FWC law enforcement and bear management staff immediately responded to secure the area. Young Kangaroo Hops Around Florida Town After Brazen Escape, Owner Charged Markel's remains were found about 100 yards from his home, along with evidence of a "physical encounter" between a bear and a person near the house, according to a news release from the FWC. Officials also noted a dog was recently killed by a bear near a person, and there were signs that a bear had entered the home itself. Read On The Fox News App Nih Closes Experimentation Labs Accused Of Brutally Killing Thousands Of Beagles For 40+ Years While the exact sequence of events remains unclear, the FWC's Human-Bear Conflict Response Policies and Guidelines outline how the agency should respond when faced with situations that require the removal of a bear for public safety. From Monday night into early Tuesday morning, FWC personnel killed three adult male bears weighing 207, 263 and 434 pounds, according to the release. There was an unsuccessful attempt to trap a fourth bear, but DNA evidence was collected, officials said. The three carcasses were immediately taken to laboratories in Gainesville for necropsy and testing, along with DNA samples collected from physical evidence at the scene. FWC officials said the Collier County Medical Examiner is still in the process of completing their investigation, but indicated Markel's preliminary cause of death was "consistent with injuries caused by a black bear." World's Tallest, Shortest Dogs Meet For Precious Playdate Caught On Camera Necropsy results revealed that one bear, the 263-pound male, contained partial remains of Markel. DNA results received on Friday positively identified that the 263-pound male's DNA was present on Markel, inside his home and on the dog's body. The only bear DNA found at the scene matched the three bears that were killed by authorities. All three bears were tested for rabies, and all results were negative, according to officials. FWC law enforcement and bear management staff stayed in contact with the family and maintained a presence near the property until Friday, spotting only one additional bear in the area. Law enforcement and bear management staff will remain throughout the weekend. Pittsburgh Funeral Director Charged With Swindling Pet Owners, Dumping Pets' Remains In Landfill "We want to thank the family for their cooperation as they navigate this challenging time, and our thoughts remain with them," said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. "I am proud of our staff's professional response and support for the family as they faced an unfathomable event this week." Jerome is in the South Bear Management Unit, which has the third-largest population of bears in the state, estimated at 1,044 in 2015. The FWC received 16 bear-related calls within a 10-mile radius of nearby Copeland between May 5, 2024, and May 4, 2025, resulting in five site visits, five capture efforts, three bears that were relocated and hazed, and one bear that was humanely killed, according to the FWC. While it is rare for wild black bears to injure people in Florida, people have been bitten and scratched by bears, most often when there are cubs, food sources or dogs present. The FWC receives an average of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 prior incidents where wild black bears have made physical contact with people since the 1970s, when comprehensive records began being kept. Of those, three resulted in serious injuries requiring medical attention prior to the most recent article source: Florida man, 89, and his dog mauled to death by black bear in state's first fatal attack
Fox News
11-05-2025
- Fox News
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) on Friday confirmed a man and his dog were mauled to death by a black bear in Jerome — marking the first fatal black bear attack in state history. Family members reported 89-year-old Robert Markel missing from his home and "signs of recent disturbances" that could have been caused by a bear or bears around the property. The Collier County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) notified FWC staff on Monday of a possible fatal wildlife encounter, and FWC law enforcement and bear management staff immediately responded to secure the area. Markel's remains were found about 100 yards from his home, along with evidence of a "physical encounter" between a bear and a person near the house, according to a news release from the FWC. Officials also noted a dog was recently killed by a bear near a person, and there were signs that a bear had entered the home itself. While the exact sequence of events remains unclear, the FWC's Human-Bear Conflict Response Policies and Guidelines outline how the agency should respond when faced with situations that require the removal of a bear for public safety. From Monday night into early Tuesday morning, FWC personnel killed three adult male bears weighing 207, 263 and 434 pounds, according to the release. There was an unsuccessful attempt to trap a fourth bear, but DNA evidence was collected, officials said. The three carcasses were immediately taken to laboratories in Gainesville for necropsy and testing, along with DNA samples collected from physical evidence at the scene. FWC officials said the Collier County Medical Examiner is still in the process of completing their investigation, but indicated Markel's preliminary cause of death was "consistent with injuries caused by a black bear." Necropsy results revealed that one bear, the 263-pound male, contained partial remains of Markel. DNA results received on Friday positively identified that the 263-pound male's DNA was present on Markel, inside his home and on the dog's body. The only bear DNA found at the scene matched the three bears that were killed by authorities. All three bears were tested for rabies, and all results were negative, according to officials. FWC law enforcement and bear management staff stayed in contact with the family and maintained a presence near the property until Friday, spotting only one additional bear in the area. Law enforcement and bear management staff will remain throughout the weekend. "We want to thank the family for their cooperation as they navigate this challenging time, and our thoughts remain with them," said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. "I am proud of our staff's professional response and support for the family as they faced an unfathomable event this week." Jerome is in the South Bear Management Unit, which has the third-largest population of bears in the state, estimated at 1,044 in 2015. The FWC received 16 bear-related calls within a 10-mile radius of nearby Copeland between May 5, 2024, and May 4, 2025, resulting in five site visits, five capture efforts, three bears that were relocated and hazed, and one bear that was humanely killed, according to the FWC. While it is rare for wild black bears to injure people in Florida, people have been bitten and scratched by bears, most often when there are cubs, food sources or dogs present. The FWC receives an average of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 prior incidents where wild black bears have made physical contact with people since the 1970s, when comprehensive records began being kept. Of those, three resulted in serious injuries requiring medical attention prior to the most recent incident.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Deadly Florida bear attack: Investigators find partial remains of elderly man inside animal
The Brief The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says the remains of one of the three black bears killed earlier this week have been found to contain the partial remains of 89-year-old Robert Markel. Markel and his dog were killed in a bear attack Monday morning in Collier County, Florida. Markel's death marks the first deadly black bear attack in state history. COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says the remains of one of the three black bears killed earlier this week have been found to contain the partial remains of 89-year-old Robert Markel. Markel and his dog were killed in a bear attack Monday morning in Collier County, Florida. The man's death marks the first deadly black bear attack in state history. What we know FWC officials have concluded their initial investigation into Monday's black bear attack that resulted in the death of a man and a dog. From Monday evening into early Tuesday morning, officials said they lethally removed three adult male bears weighing 207, 263 and 434 pounds. There was an unsuccessful attempt to trap a fourth bear, but DNA evidence was collected. Authorities said the remains of Markel were found approximately 100 yards from his home. Investigators noted several key findings: Evidence indicating a physical encounter between a bear and a person near the residence A dog recently killed by a bear in close proximity to a person Signs that a bear had entered the residence itself Although the Collier County Medical Examiner is still in the process of completing their investigation, they indicated the preliminary cause of Markel's death was consistent with injuries caused by a black bear. Officials said investigation results revealed that the 263-pound male bear contained the partial remains of Markel. DNA results also positively identified the bear's DNA was on Markel, inside his residence and on the dog's body. FWC said the only bear DNA found at the scene matched the three bears that were lethally killed. All three bears were tested for rabies, and all results were negative. Authorities say they have stayed in contact with Markel's family and maintained a presence near the property from Monday through Friday. During that time, they said they observed only one additional bear in the area, which briefly appeared late Thursday night and then left the area. The backstory In the early morning hours of Monday, May 5, Markel and his dog were attacked by a black bear near State Road 29 and U.S. 41, south of Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area in Collier County. Both Markel and his dog were killed. Following the attack, authorities set multiple traps and cameras throughout the area on Monday night, and at least three bears were killed by FWC personnel. DNA samples from the scene and the three bears killed were sent to Gainesville for testing. Authorities warned residents and visitors to avoid the area and discouraged anyone from approaching or attempting to track wildlife. What we don't know The exact circumstances leading up to the attack remain unclear, including whether the victim was hiking, camping or encountered the bear on private property. Authorities have not confirmed whether the bear was provoked or acting defensively, and it's unknown if it had been seen in the area before. What they're saying "We want to thank the family for their cooperation as they navigate this challenging time, and our thoughts remain with them," FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said. "I am proud of our staff's professional response and support for the family as they faced an unfathomable event this week." What's next FWC said the investigation will remain open until all testing is completed and the results have been thoroughly reviewed. Law enforcement and bear management staff will remain near the property throughout the weekend. Dig deeper While black bears are native to Florida, they were once considered threatened due to habitat loss and human encroachment. Conservation efforts have helped the population rebound, but with that resurgence, there has been a noticeable uptick in bear sightings in populated and semi-rural areas. In recent years, reports have emerged of bears rummaging through trash, crossing suburban roads and occasionally entering residential properties, particularly in north and Central Florida. Now, Florida wildlife officials are considering a proposal to allow bear hunting for the first time in nearly a decade. The FWC says the hunt aims to manage the growing black bear population, now exceeding 4,000. Officials have yet to finalize key details, including the exact number of bears that would be allowed to be hunted across the state and in Central Florida. Local perspective Jerome is in the South Bear Management Unit, which has the third-largest population of bears in the state, estimated at 1,044 in 2015. FWC officials said demographic analysis indicates this population has a positive annual growth rate. FWC received 16 bear-related calls within a 10-mile radius of nearby Copeland between May 5, 2024, and May 4, 2025, resulting in five site visits, five capture efforts, three bears that were relocated and hazed and one bear that was humanely killed. Big picture view Bear attacks on humans in Florida remain rare, but the incident raises questions about interaction with wildlife as the state's development continues to encroach on natural habitats. FWC officials said bears typically injure people when there are cubs, food sources or dogs present. FWC receives an average of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 prior incidents where wild black bears have made physical contact with people since the 1970s, when comprehensive records began being kept. Of those, three resulted in serious injuries requiring medical attention prior to this incident. What you can do When wildlife feels threatened by people, FWC officials say the animals typically try to communicate with people to back off on their own, such as how a rattlesnake rattles its tail and an alligator opens its mouth and hisses. The FWC says that if a bear feels threatened, it may clack its teeth together, moan, blow, huff or stomp the ground. They may also bluff charge (run toward you and then stop before reaching you). "These are all ways the bear is showing you it is as uncomfortable with the situation, and it wants you to give it some space," officials said. "These are NOT indications of aggressive intent or an imminent attack. Truly predatory or aggressive black bears are rare and generally silent." The FWC shared some tips on how to stay safe around black bears: Enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear. If your presence changes the bear's behavior, you are too close. Remain standing upright. Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice. Back up slowly toward a secure area. Be sure you are leaving the bear a clear escape route. Avoid direct eye contact. Bears and other animals may view this as aggressive behavior. Stop and hold your ground if moving away seems to irritate instead of calm the bear. Make any sudden or abrupt movements. Run Play dead Climb a tree Approach or surprise a bear, especially one that may be injured. Fight back aggressively. People have successfully fended off black bear attacks using rocks, sticks or even their bare hands. If you feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick, injured, dead or orphaned bear; or want to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them, you can call FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information gathered from previous reporting, as well as information shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in an official report on May 9, 2025.
