News around Florida – Florida officials have confirmed the state’s first fatal bear attack, in which an 89-year-old man and his dog were killed.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported that on the morning of May 5, 2025 Robert Markel and his dog were found dead on his property in Collier County near Jerome, a rural community about 30 miles east of Naples. According to FWC Director Colonel Roger Young, Markel and his dog were killed at different times while alone at home. Markel’s daughter called 911 after allegedly witnessing the bear attack the dog. She then went on to look for her father, who was found dead.
In response to the incident, FWC set traps in the area, installed monitoring cameras, and euthanized three bears in the area. DNA samples from the scene and the bears have been sent to the University of Florida for testing to determine whether one of them was involved in the attack.
Officials believe the attack was most likely carried out by a black bear.
What to do if you encounter a bear, according to FWC:
“If you encounter a bear at close range:
- 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 your movement away seems to irritate instead of calm the bear
DO NOT:
- Make any sudden or abrupt movements
- Run – running can trigger a chase instinct and bears can sprint up to 35 mph
- Play dead – black bears eat things that play dead or are dead
- Climb a tree – black bears can climb 100 feet up a tree in 30 seconds
- Approach or surprise a bear, especially one that may be injured
If a black bear attacks you:
- Fight back aggressively. People have successfully fended off black bear attacks using rocks, sticks, or even their bare hands!”
Though there have been a number of reported incidents of physical contact between bears and humans, yesterday’s event was the first confirmed death in Florida from a bear attack.
Other recent recorded physical contact incidents:
-February 15, 2025: Marion County; adult female bear with young
-December 20, 2024: Volusia County: unknown bear
-November 13, 2024: Orange County; unknown bear.
*all incidents involved a dog
