A man and a dog were killed in a bear attack in rural Jerome, Florida on May 5, 2025.
A family member reportedly called 911 at 7:15 a.m. after witnessing a bear kill the victim’s dog.
There was no sign of Robert Markel, 89, and his trailer was in disarray, with a mattress and other items scattered throughout, according to a police report.
No blood was reportedly found inside the camper, but Markel’s bloodied wallet, pants and T-shirt were found about 20 yards away in a wooded area.
Markel, of Jerome, was found dead on the property, about 100 yards from the dog.
It is the first time a bear has killed a human in recorded Florida history, FWC confirmed.
Here’s what to know about the deadly bear attack and the tiny community of Jerome, Florida:
Man and dog killed by black bear in Jerome, Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife is investigating after a man and a dog died in a black bear attack on May 5, 2025, just south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area in Jerome.
At 7:07 a.m., the Collier County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a potential bear mauling on State Road 29 in Jerome, Florida, between Naples and Everglades City.
Upon their arrival, deputies found Robert Markel, 89, and his dog had been fatally mauled on Markel’s property.
Markel’s daughter witnessed the dog being fatally mauled by a bear and notified authorities.
Markel’s body was found about 100 yards away from the dog. Officials believe he was killed about two hours before the dog was attacked.
Markel and the dog had been home alone at the time of Markel’s mauling.
“When there’s a loss of life, we’re all affected by this, we’re very sorry that this occurred,” FWC public information officer Tyson Matthews said.
Officials reportedly took DNA samples at the scene. Three bears were killed and hauled from nearby woods. Necropsies on the animals and evidence testing is pending.
According to an FWC email, wildlife officials have “secured the perimeter and several traps and cameras were placed throughout the area last night. Three bears were killed by FWC personnel. DNA samples from the scene and the three bears have been sent to Gainesville for testing, and we are awaiting those results.”
Where in Florida was the bear attack?
The deadly bear attack happened in the rural, unincorporated Collier County community of Jerome, Florida, at 22777 State Road 29.
Jerome, Florida map
Jerome, Florida is located on the edge of the Everglades just south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area along State Road 29, about 42 miles southeast of Naples and 13 miles northeast of Everglades City.
Jerome, Florida population
In 2024, the population of Jerome was estimated to be fewer than 50, according to a previous Naples Daily News report.
Sawmill contaminated drinking water in Jerome
Jerome was once home to the C.J. Jones Lumber Mill. In the 1940s, the mill was the largest steam-powered sawmill in the southeastern United States, according to the Collier County Museum. Fire destroyed the mill on Dec. 5, 1956.
Jones reportedly leased the land, but the Colliers and their business entities owned it.
The mill’s operation contaminated the land and water with creosote, derived from the distillation of tar from wood or coal and is used as a wood preservative.
In 1989, Jerome residents complained to the Collier County Health Department about the taste and smell of water, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
The Colliers dug up the site, the report states, and began providing Jerome residents with bottled water, per a 1990 agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (now Protection), according to a previous Naples Daily News report.
But, “almost as soon as the Colliers inked the deal with the State of Florida … they stopped providing the residents the gallons of bottled water the Consent Decree required (so) Mrs. Collier and her family profited from the polluted land while leaving residents at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals in the water they drink, cook, and shower with,” a lawsuit filed over the sale of the tainted land to the state of Florida contends.
Where are most bears in Florida located? How many bears in Jerome, Collier County?
Wild black bears are found in almost half of the state, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife.
Southwest Florida, including Collier County, is among the “frequent” locations the FWC classifies where Florida black bears can be seen.
FWC defines frequent areas as “those with the highest density of bear locations, indicating bears are spending a considerable amount of time in these areas. These areas are the core of the bear population where evidence of reproduction is consistent.”
In a 911 call reporting the bear attack, a man identifying himself as Markel’s grandson said 30 to 40 bears walked back and forth from behind the victim’s trailer in rural Jerome daily.
Contributing: Amy Bennett Williams, Naples Daily News
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Bear attack kills man, dog in rural Jerome, Florida. Where is that and what happened?
Reporting by Kim Luciani, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
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