Robert Markel dies in fatal Collier County bear attack

Robert Markel dies in fatal Collier County bear attack

Fatal Collier County bear attack death of Robert Markel – Obituary

Robert Markel, 89, tragically lost his life in a fatal bear attack in Collier County, Florida, on May 5, 2025.

The incident took place in a wooded area near State Road 29, north of Everglades City. Authorities were alerted at 7:07 a.m. when a man was found dead in the vicinity of the 22000 block of SR-29. Upon further investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that both Markel and his dog had been killed in what is being called a suspected bear attack.

FWC has stated that the two deaths occurred separately, but within a few hundred yards of each other. While the investigation is ongoing, they are working to determine whether the same bear or multiple bears were involved in the attack.

Markel’s daughter, who had witnessed the bear attack the dog and later discovered her father’s death, was the one to make the 911 call. FWC has deployed four live bear traps and is continuing efforts to locate the bear, urging the public to avoid the area for safety reasons.

This marks the first fatal bear attack in Florida’s history. The case serves as a stark reminder of an earlier bear-related incident in Collier County from 2018, which left a man with severe injuries.