In a tragic and unprecedented incident, an 88-year-old man and his dog were killed in what authorities believe was a pair of bear attacks near the edge of the Florida Everglades on Monday morning.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received a report around 7 a.m. of a “bear encounter” near Jerome, a small rural community southeast of Fort Myers. Responding officers discovered the body of Robert Markel, a longtime resident of the area, just a few hundred yards from where his dog was also found dead.
If confirmed, this would mark the first fatal bear attack in Florida’s recorded history. While black bears are native to the state and sightings are not uncommon, they rarely exhibit lethal aggression toward humans.
“We do know it was a bear attack,” said FWC spokesperson Jorge Reynaud. “We don’t yet know if it was a single bear or multiple bears involved.”
Officials said the attack occurred on a rural property near the western edge of Big Cypress National Preserve, where Markel had been living with his dog. His daughter reportedly witnessed the dog being attacked by the bear and called 911, leading officers to discover Markel’s body nearby.
A large search operation ensued, involving aerial drones and bear traps. Later that day, a flurry of gunshots was heard in the woods near Jerome, followed by officials removing a dead bear from the area. It remains unclear who shot the bear and whether it was responsible for both deaths.
Residents were urged to stay vigilant as authorities worked to determine if any other bears might pose a threat. The bear in question is believed to have been a Florida black bear, a species numbering around 4,000 statewide.
“This is a deeply alarming and heartbreaking incident,” said the FWC in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, we continue to urge residents and visitors in the area to avoid the region while our investigation continues.”
The attack follows a nonfatal bear mauling reported in January, underscoring growing concerns about human-wildlife interactions in remote Florida communities.
Would you like a side-by-side comparison of this and other rare U.S. bear attacks for context?