DNA, necropsy results show that just one of three bears shot by wildlife officials was responsible for fatally mauling Robert Markel of Jerome

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is taking another step towards reinstating an annual black bear hunt. The commission is meeting Wednesday, May 21, in Ocala to consider rules for a 23-day bear hunt in December and an annual hunt from October through December starting in 2026.

Investigators said the remains of 89-year-old Robert Markel were found about 100 yards from his home in rural Jerome. They found evidence that "a physical encounter" occurred between a bear and Markel;

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is moving forward with proposed amendments to black bear hunting rules.

An man and his dog were mauled to death by a black bear in Jerome, Florida. The 89-year-old man's death marks the first fatality attributed to a black bear in state history.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding a public meeting to discuss an annual bear hunting season.

Necropsy results revealed that a 263-pound black bear contained the partial remains of 89-year-old Robert Markel, and a preliminary autopsy found that Markel’s cause of death was consistent with a bear attack.

One of the three, a 263-pound male, was positively identified by his DNA being on the dog, inside the trailer and on Markel’s body. The partial remains of the victim, inside the bear’s stomach, were further proof that the correct bear had been dealt with. That’s a good thing, right? I’d have thought so, but many do not.