DNA Confirms FL's 1st Fatal Black Bear Attack: New Details

COLLIER COUNTY, FL — Wildlife officials on Friday confirmed a Jerome man died in Florida's first-ever fatal black bear attack, releasing new details regarding the incident.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the remains of Robert Markel, 89, were found Monday about 100 yards from his Collier County home.

Markel's daughter, after seeing his dog attacked by a black bear, went searching for her father, ABC News previously reported.

He was reported missing from his home, and wildlife officials said there were signs of recent disturbances that may have been caused by at least one bear.

They noted there was evidence that a dog was recently killed by a bear near a person, signs the bear went into the home and evidence that showed a physical interaction between a person and a bear near the home.

This led wildlife officials to kill three bears suspected of being involved in the fatal incident, they said.

"The FWC does not make that decision lightly," wildlife officials said in a news release.

They noted the bears weighed 207 pounds, 263 pounds and 434 pounds. An effort to trap a fourth bear was unsuccessful, but they were able to gather DNA, wildlife officials said.

The bears who died were taken to Gainesville laboratories for necropsy and testing, during which DNA samples gathered from the scene were examined.

The Collier County Medical Examiner's preliminary autopsy showed Markel's injuries were consistent with a black bear attack, wildlife officials said.

RELATED: 3 Bears Killed After Fatal Attack On FL Man, Dog: Officials

On Friday, DNA results returned a positive DNA match from a 263-pound male bear to DNA present on Markel, wildlife officials said.

"DNA results received on Friday, May 9, positively identified that the 263-pound male’s DNA was present on Markel, inside his residence and on the dog’s body. The only bear DNA found at the scene matched the three bears lethally taken. All three bears were tested for rabies, and all results were negative," wildlife officials said in the release.

Since the deadly attack, they said another bear has been observed in the area. Authorities and bear management plan to remain in the area through the weekend.

"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 in the release. “I am proud of our staff's professional response and support for the family as they faced an unfathomable
event this week.”

Located in the South Bear Management Unit, Jerome is home to the third-largest population of bears in Florida, wildlife officials said. They predict the bear population could grow yearly.

Between May 4 and 5, the FWC received 16 bear-related calls within a 10-mile radius of nearby Copeland. Wildlife officials said this resulted in five site visits, five capture efforts, three bears that were relocated and hazed and one bear that was humanely killed.

The rarity of Floridians being injured by black bears include bites and scratches from bears, prominently occurrences that include cubs, food or dogs.

Since the 1970s, there have been 42 human-bear physical encounters with three of them resulting in serious injuries, wildlife officials said.

To learn about what to do if you encounter a bear, the FWC has tips.