A tragic incident involving a bear attack has resulted in the death of an elderly man and his dog in Florida, causing a wave of concern throughout the local community. The event took place near the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area, where 89-year-old Robert Markle was discovered deceased following a bear attack on his pet, witnessed by his daughter. This unfortunate incident is the first recorded fatal bear attack in Florida, a state where such encounters with wildlife are not typically common.
Markle, a beloved figure in his community who had previously battled kidney cancer, was found a short distance from his home. His unexpected death has left his family and friends in mourning. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded swiftly to the incident, setting up bear traps in the vicinity.
A bear was captured by FWC officers near the site of the attack, although tests are still being conducted to determine if it was the same bear involved in the incident. Attacks of this nature are extremely rare, with black bears causing less than one human death per year across North America on average. However, this incident has sparked renewed conversations about bear management practices in Florida.
This attack is part of a recent increase in bear encounters in Florida. In a separate incident in Sanford, a woman managed to deter a bear using a bag of cookies, ensuring her safety and that of her dog. These events have heightened the urgency of the FWC’s plans to manage the bear population.
In response to these incidents, the FWC has proposed a bear hunt in December, aiming to reduce the bear population by 187 from the estimated 4,000 bears currently residing in Florida. This proposal has been met with criticism, with some arguing that the state’s bear population is already dwindling. The last bear hunt in Florida, which was intended to last a month, was halted after just two days due to higher than anticipated kill rates.
As the community of Naples grapples with this loss and the state prepares for the proposed hunt, the FWC has reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and conservation efforts. The commission has put in place advanced surveillance and personnel to respond to any further wildlife incidents. The draft of the bear hunt plan is expected to be released for public review, likely igniting further debate on the complex issue of wildlife management.