Man, 89, Confirmed as First Victim of Fatal Black Bear Attack in Florida History

Man, 89, Confirmed as First Victim of Fatal Black Bear Attack in Florida History After Remains Found Inside Animal


An elderly man and his dog have died in a black bear attack in southwest Florida, officials said

An 89-year-old man and his dog have died in a black bear attack in southwest Florida, marking the first confirmed fatal attack in the state's history
Jerome, Fla., resident Robert Markel was found dead 100 yards away from his home, and DNA was found on his body from a 263-pound male black bear
Officials have only documented 42 incidents where wild black bears have made physical contact with people in Florida since the 1970s
An 89-year-old man and his dog have died in a black bear attack in southwest Florida — the first of its kind confirmed fatal attack in the state's history.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), authorities were called to the home of 89-year-old Robert Markel in Jerome, Fla. — a rural unincorporated community located about 40 miles southeast of Naples — soon after 7 a.m. on Monday, May 5, where they discovered his body about 100 yards outside of his home.

The FWC said in a press release that Markel's family members reported him missing and said that there were signs of recent disturbances that could have been caused by a bear around the property.

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