Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed on Friday that a man and his dog were attacked by a black bear, marking the first fatal bear attack in the state’s history. Family members reported 89-year-old Robert Marquell missing from his home, noting “signs of recent disturbances” which might indicate bear activity around the property.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office alerted the FWC about a possible wildlife fatality on Monday. Staff from FWC, including law enforcement and bear management teams, promptly secured the area.
The FWC later reported that Marquell’s body was discovered roughly 100 yards from his home, accompanied by signs of a “physical encounter” with the bear. Additionally, the family noted that their dog had also recently been killed by a bear.
The precise circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear, but FWC has established protocols for responding to such wildlife encounters to ensure public safety. Between Monday night and early Tuesday morning, officials euthanized three adult male bears weighing 207, 263, and 434 pounds, as part of the investigation.
An attempt was made to capture a fourth bear, but was unsuccessful. However, DNA evidence was gathered at the scene. The remains of the three euthanized bears were sent to labs in Gainesville for analysis, alongside other DNA samples collected from the area.
While investigations by Collier County medical officials are ongoing, preliminary findings indicated that Marquell’s injuries were consistent with those typically inflicted by a black bear. Notably, one of the bears—a 263-pound male—was found to contain remains consistent with Marquell’s DNA.
The results from DNA analysis confirmed the presence of Marquell’s DNA in the bear’s stomach and at his home. All three bears were tested for rabies, with negative results. FWC enforcement teams stayed in close contact with the family and monitored the property until Friday, discovering additional bears in the vicinity.
As law enforcement and bear management staff continued their presence over the weekend, they expressed gratitude to the community for their cooperation during this difficult time. Jerome is located within an area known for a large bear population, estimated at about 1,044 in 2015.
Despite wild black bears in Florida rarely attacking people, incidents often occur when food sources, cubs, or dogs are present. Since the 1970s, the FWC has documented 42 cases of physical contact between black bears and humans, with an average of over 6,300 bear-related calls placed each year.
Before this recent incident, only three people had suffered serious injuries from bear interactions since the record-keeping began.
