Florida Wildlife Officers kill 3 black bears after a fatal attack

Wildlife officers in Florida killed three black bears in the southwestern part of the state, less than 24 hours after a man was killed in the same area, the officials announced on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear whether one of the three bears was involved in the attack on Monday morning, in which Robert Markel, 89, in a forest, was killed by Collier County.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the remains of the bears were sent to Gainesville, Florida, to determine whether there was a connection to an agency known as extremely rare attack.

The attack on Mr. Markel was the first time that a bear had killed a person in Florida's history, Mike Orlando, the coordinator of the Bärenmanagement program for the Commission, said during a press conference on Tuesday.

The Commission monitors the investigation of the fatal encounter that Jerome, Florida, north of Everglades City, Florida, used a strong presence of wildlife officers. Mr. Markel's dog was also killed by a bear the same morning, although it was not clear whether they were attacked by it.

Mr. Markel's daughter called in 911 after seeing the attack on his dog and could not find her father, reported the local television station WPLG.

Wildlife officers set up in the area in which the attacks took place, falling and cameras, the officials said during the press conference.

According to the Wildlife Commission, Florida houses more than 4,000 black bears. It followed it from the national forest of Panhandle and Ocala in the middle section of the state to the Big Cypress National Preserve in Südflorida, which took place near the attack on Monday.

Wildlife officers reminded people on Tuesday what they should do when they meet a bear what can come into contact with people and pets while romping after food.

“Sit on your floor,” said Orlando. “Let yourself look big. Talk to the bear. Do not run. Don't play dead.”

In a worst case, people should take measures.

“Even if a bear touches you,” he said, “you have to defend yourself.”