JEROME, Fla. – What began as a missing persons report in rural Collier County has become a grim milestone in Florida history, the state’s first fatal black bear attack.
Robert Markel, 89, was found dead just 100 yards from his home in Jerome, a quiet, wooded area not far from the Big Cypress Preserve. His faithful dog was also killed in the violent encounter, which state wildlife officials say involved at least one black bear.
“This is a first for Florida,” said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in a chilling announcement Friday. Despite decades of bear sightings and occasional scuffles, never before has a person in the Sunshine State lost their life to a black bear, until now.
A Missing Man, a Disturbed Yard, and a Deadly Discovery
Family members first raised the alarm after noticing Markel hadn’t been seen and that signs of a struggle, claw marks, scattered debris, dotted his rural property. According to the FWC, there were “signs of recent disturbances that could have been caused by a bear or bears.”
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office quickly alerted wildlife officials, prompting an immediate response from FWC law enforcement and bear management teams. By the time they arrived, the scene told a harrowing story.
Near Markel’s modest home, officers found evidence of a “physical encounter” between a person and a bear. His remains lay nearby, along with the body of his dog. It was clear the situation had turned tragic, and lethal.
One Bear Confirmed Responsible: “Partial Remains Found Inside”
As night fell Monday and crept into Tuesday, wildlife agents tracked and killed three adult male black bears, weighing 207, 263, and 434 pounds in an effort to secure the area and identify the attacker. A fourth bear eluded capture, but DNA samples were taken from the scene.
Then came the gut-wrenching confirmation.
Necropsy results showed that the 263-pound bear had “partial remains of Markel” in its stomach. DNA testing sealed the case: that bear’s genetic material matched evidence found on Markel, inside his home, and on his dog’s body.
“Authorities found the victim’s DNA in the bear’s stomach,” the FWC stated flatly.
All three euthanized bears tested negative for rabies, and no other bear DNA was found in the vicinity, effectively closing the investigation.
FWC Chair: “An Unfathomable Event”
While the Collier County Medical Examiner is still finalizing its report, officials say the preliminary cause of death is “consistent with injuries caused by a black bear.”
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto addressed the tragedy publicly:
“We want to thank the family for their cooperation as they navigate this challenging time, and our thoughts remain with them,” he said. “I am proud of our staff’s professional response and support for the family as they faced an unfathomable event this week.”
In the days following the attack, wildlife teams maintained a presence in Jerome. One additional bear was seen in the area, but it did not pose an immediate threat. Officials plan to remain onsite through the weekend.
Bear Hotspot: Jerome Lies in One of Florida’s Most Bear-Populated Regions
Jerome sits within the South Bear Management Uni, an area with the third-largest black bear population in Florida. A 2015 estimate put the number at 1,044.
And locals have noticed. Between May 2024 and May 2025, the FWC received 16 bear-related calls within a 10-mile radius of neighboring Copeland. These reports led to five site visits, five capture attempts, three relocations, and one humane euthanization, all before Markel’s death.
While black bear encounters aren’t rare in Florida, fatal attacks certainly are.
Since the 1970s, when the FWC began keeping comprehensive records, there have been just 42 reported incidents of bears physically contacting people. Only three involved serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Then came this week.
Why Bears Attack: Dogs, Food, and Fear
Experts stress that black bears don’t typically target people. But they will defend themselves if startled — especially when cubs, food, or dogs are involved. In Markel’s case, his dog’s presence may have triggered a deadly escalation.
FWC receives an average of 6,300 bear-related calls each year. Most end without harm. But the agency says it will now be reviewing its Human-Bear Conflict Response Guidelines in light of this fatality.
A Quiet Town Changed Forever
For the quiet community of Jerome, this isn’t just a wildlife incident, it’s a devastating loss. A man nearing 90, living peacefully in the woods with his dog, died in the kind of attack that, until now, had never happened in Florida.
Markel’s family is left grieving. His neighbors are shaken. And the state is grappling with what it means to share the land with creatures growing bolder, and more numerous, each year.
