Florida man killed in first fatal bear attack in state history
Officials said that while it is rare for wild black bears to injure people in Florida, people have previously been bitten and scratched, most often when cubs, food sources or dogs are present.
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JEROME, Fla. – Wildlife officials in Florida have concluded an investigation and confirmed the first fatal bear attack in state history last week.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Collier County Sheriff’s Office notified the FWC of a possible fatal wildlife encounter in Jerome on May 5.
Officials said family members reported a relative missing from his home, and there were signs of a recent disturbance at the property that could have been caused by a bear or bears.
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The remains of 89-year-old Robert Markel were found about 100 yards away from his home, and investigators found that there was evidence indicating a physical encounter between a bear and a person.
In addition, the remains of a dog were found nearby, and there were signs that the bear entered the home itself.
The FWC said the exact sequence of events is unknown.
Between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, the FWC said crews lethally removed three bears weighing 207, 263 and 434 pounds. A fourth bear was also unsuccessfully attempted to be removed.
The bear’s remains were taken to laboratories in Gainesville for necropsy and testing, along with DNA samples gathered from the scene.
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The Collier County Medical Examiner is still completing its investigation, but officials said the preliminary cause of death was consistent with injuries caused by a black bear.
Necropsy results revealed that one of the bears (263 pounds) contained partial remains of Markel. DNA results, too, positively identified that the 263-pound bear’s DNA was found on Markel, inside his home and on the dog’s body.
Officials said that the only bear DNA found at the scene matched all three bears that were lethally removed from the area. All the bears were tested for rabies, and the results were negative.
The FWC said that Jerome is in the South Bear Management Unit, which has the third-largest population of bears in the state. In addition, officials said that while it is rare for wild black bears to injure people in Florida, people have previously been bitten and scratched, most often when cubs, food sources or dogs are present.