In a shocking and unprecedented incident, an 88-year-old man and his dog were killed in what officials believe was a black bear attack near Jerome, Florida, early Monday morning. According to ABC News, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed this as the first fatal bear attack ever recorded in the state.
The victim, Robert Markel, was found by his daughter after she heard a disturbance and witnessed a bear attacking their family dog. After the dog was fatally mauled, she searched for her father and tragically discovered that he, too, had been attacked and killed. The two attacks occurred within a few hundred yards of each other and at different times, according to FWC spokesperson George Reynaud.
As reported by CBS News, wildlife officers immediately began searching for the bear, setting four traps in the area and using drones to canvass the terrain. Two bears were captured and euthanized Monday night, and The Associated Press notes that DNA testing is currently underway to determine whether either of them was responsible for the attacks.
The incident occurred near State Road 29 and U.S. 41, on the southern edge of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. Officials have urged the public to stay away from the area while the investigation continues and to exercise caution around wildlife.
According to Gulf Coast News Now, experts say Florida’s bear population has been steadily increasing, leading to more frequent encounters with humans. While black bears are typically shy and avoid people, this incident has sparked renewed concern about managing human-wildlife interactions in rapidly developing parts of the state.
The FWC emphasized the importance of not approaching bears and ensuring trash and food sources are secured to prevent attracting wildlife into residential areas.
UPDATE: Black Bear Season Proposed in Florida.
The black bear population has come back from just several hundred bears in the 1970s to over 4,000 today and is one of Florida’s most successful conservation efforts.
Regulated black bear hunting occurred in Florida in the 1930s and continued until 1994. Hunting was closed until 2015, when it was reopened in the fall. No bear hunting seasons have been open since 2015.