JEROME, Fla. (WFLA) — The remains of an 89-year-old man from Florida were partially discovered in one of the bears captured by Florida Fish and Wildlife officials earlier this week, after the state’s first fatal bear attack.
On Friday, officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported that initial findings indicated a 263-pound male bear had Robert Markel’s remains. Markel, a Florida resident, was found deceased on Monday morning. DNA from the bear was discovered on Markel, within his trailer, and on the dog’s remains.
Investigators noted evidence of an encounter between Markel and the bear close to his trailer, a dog recently killed by a bear nearby, and indications that the bear had breached the trailer. However, the sequence of these events is still uncertain, as per the FWC.
The Collier County Medical Examiner is still working to complete their investigation.
Just after 7 a.m. on May 5, Markel was found dead nearly 100 yards from his dog in Jerome, Florida, which is located south of Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. After Markel’s dog was found dead in the front driveway, a search ensued for the man.
A 911 call from Markel’s granddaughter to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office detailed the moments when family members discovered the 89 year-old missing from his trailer, along with signs of disturbances likely caused by bears. His granddaughter told operators that the bear had entered his residence while he was sleeping.
FWC’s incident report described Markel’s trailer as being in “disarray,” with the mattress and other items scattered throughout.
Searching for the culprit, FWC officials trapped and removed three bears, weighing 207, 263, and 434 pounds, in the area on Tuesday and sent them off to Gainesville for a necropsy and DNA testing. Officials were unsure if the same bear, or multiple attacked, as the deaths occurred at separate times, they said Monday.
Four live bear traps were deployed that afternoon. FWC said that while they were unable to capture the fourth bear, they were able to obtain DNA evidence. All three bears successfully captured matched the DNA found at the scene, indicating the presence in the area is isolated to those three.
On Thursday night, an additional bear was briefly spotted in the area but left. FWC said Jerome has the third-largest bear population in Florida, with approximately 1,044 bears. While fatal attacks are rare, officials urge Floridians to remain vigilant and keep a safe distance if one is near.
“We want to thank the family for their cooperation as they navigate this challenging time,
and our thoughts remain with them,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said. “I am proud of
our staff’s professional response and support for the family as they faced an unfathomable
event this week.”
Wildlife officials and local law enforcement will remain in the area throughout the weekend. This remains an ongoing investigation until testing is completed and results are thoroughly reviewed.
For more information on Florida black bears and what to do in the event a bear approaches, click here.
