Man, 89, Confirmed as First Victim of Fatal Black Bear Attack in Florida History After Remains Found Inside Animal

• An 89-year-old man and his canine have died in a black bear assault in southwest Florida, marking the primary confirmed deadly assault within the state’s historical past

• Jerome, Fla., resident Robert Markel was discovered lifeless 100 yards away from his house, and DNA was discovered on his physique from a 263-pound male black bear

• Officers have solely documented 42 incidents the place wild black bears have made bodily contact with individuals in Florida because the Nineteen Seventies

An 89-year-old man and his canine have died in a black bear assault in southwest Florida — the primary of its variety confirmed deadly assault within the state’s historical past.

In line with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC), authorities have been referred to as to the house of 89-year-old Robert Markel in Jerome, Fla. — a rural unincorporated group positioned about 40 miles southeast of Naples — quickly after 7 a.m. on Monday, Could 5, the place they found his physique about 100 yards exterior of his house.

The FWC mentioned in a press launch that Markel’s relations reported him lacking and mentioned that there have been indicators of latest disturbances that would have been attributable to a bear across the property.

FWC investigators mentioned that they discovered proof of “a bodily encounter between a bear and an individual close to the residence, a canine not too long ago killed by a bear in shut proximity to an individual and indicators {that a} bear had entered the residence itself.”

In its assertion, the FWC confirmed that this was the primary deadly black bear assault in Florida’s historical past, though people have beforehand been scratched and bitten by bears within the state.

The group added that circumstances surrounding the assault met necessities for 3 bears dwelling within the close by South Bear Administration Unit to be euthanized and for his or her DNA to be collected, together with three grownup male bears weighing 207, 263 and 434 kilos. FWC workers additionally tried to lure a fourth bear however have been unsuccessful.

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“The three carcasses have been instantly transported to laboratories in Gainesville for necropsy and testing, together with DNA samples collected from bodily proof on the scene,” officers mentioned.

In line with the FWC, the precise sequence of occasions continues to be unclear, however DNA samples from the testing revealed on Friday that the 263-pound male’s physique contained Markel’s partial stays.

DNA outcomes additionally confirmed that the 263-pound male’s DNA was current on Markel, inside his home and on his canine’s physique, per the FWC, and all three bears examined damaging for rabies.

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Regulation enforcement and bear administration workers have been observing the property for extra bears since Monday, and solely briefly noticed one extra bear on Thursday night time, which rapidly left the realm.

“We need to thank the household for his or her cooperation as they navigate this difficult time, and our ideas stay with them,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto mentioned in an announcement. “I’m happy with our workers’s skilled response and assist for the household as they confronted an unfathomable occasion this week.”

In line with the FWC, no different species of bear is present in Florida, and there are estimated to be round 4,050 throughout the state. The South Bear Administration Unit, the place Jerome is positioned, accommodates the third largest inhabitants of bears within the state, estimated at 1,044 in 2015, the group added.

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The press launch states that the FWC has solely documented 42 incidents the place wild black bears have made bodily contact with individuals because the Nineteen Seventies. Solely three of these incidents resulted in critical accidents requiring medical consideration, excluding the deadly assault this week.

In line with the group’s website, anybody dwelling close to bears ought to by no means feed the animals, hold rubbish, meals and livestock safe, and pay attention to their surrounding whereas strolling canines.

“Please contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) if you happen to really feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick, injured, lifeless, or orphaned bear; or to report somebody who’s both harming bears or deliberately feeding them,” the press launch mentioned.

The FWC added that the investigation into the deadly assault continues to be ongoing and can stay open till testing is full.

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