911 calls released from bear attack that killed 89-year-old man and his dog

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) – Wildlife officials in Florida are working to find the bear, or bears, behind an attack that killed an 89-year-old man and his dog Monday morning.

The 911 calls from Robert Markel’s family paint a picture of shock.

“The bear just got the dog … We went in to check on him in the camper. He’s gone. The camper’s all tore apart … They found all his clothes in the woods.”

People in the area are still in disbelief that Markel and his family dog were killed in what authorities believe was a bear attack.

“I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Markel family,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young said.

FWC said it killed three bears Monday night in an attempt to find the bear that killed Markel and his dog to ensure the safety of the community.

“As part of the protocol after an incident like this, our policy says that we will try to trap or take all the bears that could possibly be involved,” Young said.

DNA samples from the scene of the attack, along with DNA from the three bears, have been sent to the University of Florida Laboratories for testing to see if any of the bears are a match.

It says it is possible it was two different bears killed Markel and his dog.

“So, we’ll use that information that take DNA from the errors and from the evidence left on scene to be able to match together,” Young said.

The bears killed by the wildlife officials weighed between 200 to more than 400 pounds.

Copyright 2025 WINK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.