89-year-old man, dog killed in suspected bear attack, authorities say
JEROME, Fla. (WBBH/Gray News) – An 89-year-old man and a dog were found dead in Florida Monday morning after a suspected bear attack.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office received calls around 7 a.m. for reports of a bear encounter in Jerome, Florida.
Family said Robert Markel, 89, was asleep inside his trailer when a bear got inside and attacked him.
They said his body was found in the woods.
According to family , the dog that was killed was chained to a fence outside.
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating the suspected fatal wildlife attack.
FWC agents killed a bear about 100 feet away from the home where Markel and his dog were found dead.
They shot and killed a second bear in the woods off State Road 29 in Jermoe.
FWC officials said they won’t know if either of those bears killed the man and his dog until DNA results come back.
Authorities believe this is the first time someone has ever died after being attacked by a bear in Florida.
Copyright 2025 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. WBBH contributed to this report via CNN Newsource.
