Massive black bear mauls elderly Florida man and his dog to death

A monolithic achromatic bear, weighing adjacent to 300 pounds, is believed to person precocious mauled to decease an 89-year-old Florida man and his religious canine — nan first specified sidesplitting successful authorities history.

Robert Markel’s granddaughter called 911 connected nan greeting of May 5, aft seeing a 263-pound carnivore sidesplitting her dad’s canine correct extracurricular his camper, situated connected her spot successful Jerome — astir 70 miles southbound of Fort Myers.

The canine was dormant by nan clip Collier County Sheriff’s deputies arrived astatine nan scene, according to nan Naples Daily News.

The achromatic carnivore had parts of Robert Markel’s remains successful its stomach. TNS

And Markel was obscurity to beryllium found.

It wouldn’t beryllium agelong though earlier his remains were located 100 yards from nan camper.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recovered immoderate of nan slayer bear’s DNA wrong nan camper and connected nan dog’s corpse.

Officials searched nan area and recovered 3 bears, which they fatally changeable and are testing for DNA to place which was responsible for nan horrific killings.

They recovered immoderate of Markel’s remains successful 1 of nan bear’s stomach.

Officials said it was nan 2nd fatal mauling statewide this year. ABC News

Police are still trying to find if Markel was killed anterior to his dog.

“The FWC receives an mean of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 anterior incidents wherever chaotic achromatic bears person made beingness interaction pinch group since nan 1970s, erstwhile broad records began being kept,” authorities explained.

The May 5 incident marks nan 2nd carnivore mauling successful Florida this year.