Authorities were looking for the animals responsible after a Florida man and his dog were found dead from a suspected bear attack Monday, wildlife officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert Markel, 89, was discovered dead along with his dog at his home near the community of Jerome in Collier County after authorities were called shortly after 7 a.m., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson George Reynaud said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He and his dog were found in different areas, within a couple hundred yards of each other, Reynaud told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We do know it was a bear attack. We don’t know if it was the same bear or multiple bears,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The attack on Markel and his dog, which occurred just south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area, may have happened at different times, Reynaud said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officers set up a perimeter and were using drones to search for the bear or bears, officials said. Bear traps have been put out in the vicinity of where the attack occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DNA was gathered from the scene that should help investigators learn more about what occurred, the wildlife commission said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bear involved is likely to be a Florida black bear because of the environment, the agency said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only type of bear that naturally lives in Florida is the Florida black bear. There are around 4,050 such bears on the state, the FWC says on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n