First Fatal Bear Attack in Florida’s Recorded History Leaves Man and Dog Dead

Authorities successful Florida person announced the state’s archetypal known fatal carnivore attack.

One oregon much bears killed Robert Markel, an 89-year-old man, on with his dog, successful Collier County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), arsenic reported by USA Today. The onslaught comes arsenic the FWC considers restarting “highly regulated carnivore hunting” for the archetypal clip since 2015 successful effect to a increasing carnivore population.

On the greeting of Monday May 5, Markel’s girl called 911 aft she saw a carnivore onslaught and termination her father’s dog, according to authorities, arsenic reported by USA Today. When officials arrived astatine the scene, they besides recovered Markel’s body. Both Markel and his canine died connected Markel’s property, but astatine antithetic times.

“When there’s a nonaccomplishment of life, we’re each affected by this, we’re precise atrocious that this occurred,” committee spokesperson Tyson Matthews said astatine a quality conference, according to USA Today. Within 24 hours of Markel’s death, wildlife officers acceptable up cameras and traps astatine the tract of the attack, which led to the sidesplitting of 3 achromatic bears. The remains of these bears are present successful Gainesville, Florida, for DNA investigating to corroborate if immoderate oregon each of the 3 animals were progressive successful the fatal attack, according to the New York Times.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we impulse residents and visitors to proceed to stay vigilant and debar the area,” the FWC said successful a connection cited by USA Today. “Do not attack oregon effort to way wildlife. Law enforcement and FWC unit are continuing to show carnivore enactment and guarantee nationalist safety.” Monday’s onslaught is the 2nd carnivore mauling reported successful Florida this year, according to Naples Daily News.

In the 1970s, Florida was location to conscionable respective 100 achromatic bears. Today that colonisation has rebounded to implicit 4,000 successful what the FWC calls 1 of Florida’s astir palmy conservation efforts. As a effect of this colonisation increase, Florida residents person reported sightings of achromatic bears successful neighborhoods and backstage properties much frequently, according to the Associated Press.

After the FWC’s Bear Management Program presented updates connected the implementation of Florida’s 2019 Black Bear Management Plan backmost successful December, the committee is present considering reinstating regulated carnivore hunts.

According to the plan, the nonsubjective of regulated carnivore hunts is “to equilibrium taxon colonisation numbers with suitable situation and to support steadfast animals.” By controlling the fig of bears successful an area, carnivore hunts tin besides alteration problematic and/or unsafe encounters with humans.

If you bash travel into interaction with a bear, “stand your ground,” said Mike Orlando, the carnivore absorption programme coordinator for the FWC, arsenic reported by The New York Times. “Make yourself look large. Talk to the carnivore successful a calm fashion. Do not run. Do not play dead.”

If carnal interaction occurs, “you request to combat back.”