An 89-year-old man and his dog killed by a black bear in Florida’s first deadly bear attack

Confirming reports, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced on Friday that a black bear in Jerome had fatally attacked a man and his dog.

“We want to express our gratitude to the family for their cooperation during this difficult time, and they are in our thoughts,” stated FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “I commend our team for their professional handling of the situation and their support to the family through this unimaginable tragedy.”

Jerome is in the South Bear Management Unit, which has the third-largest population of bears in the state, estimated at 1,044 in 2015. 

The man’s dog was also killed in the black bear attack. (iStock)

Between May 5, 2024, and May 4, 2025, the FWC responded to 16 bear-related reports within a 10-mile radius of Copeland, conducting five site visits, five capture attempts, relocating and hazing three bears, and euthanizing one bear, as per the FWC statement.

While it is rare for wild black bears to injure people in Florida, people have been bitten and scratched by bears, most often when there are cubs, food sources or dogs present. 

The FWC receives an average of 6,300 bear-related calls annually and has documented 42 prior incidents where wild black bears have made physical contact with people since the 1970s, when comprehensive records began being kept. 

Of those, three resulted in serious injuries requiring medical attention prior to the most recent incident.