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.

After what sounded like gunfire, FWC officials emerged from the woods with a dead bear, possibly connected to the May 5 mauling of a Collier man.

A man and his dog were found dead in what officials are referring to as a “bear encounter” near Jerome, Florida, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. Just after 7 a.m. on Monday, officials received a call regarding a bear encounter just south of the Big Bypress Wildlife Management Area in Jerome.