Authorities are searching for a bear after it killed a man and a dog in rural Collier County, Florida. Officials reported the rare fatal wildlife attack Monday.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a bear encounter just after 7 a.m. in an unincorporated part of the county north of Everglades City.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation into the suspected fatal attack. The agency stated preliminary information indicates the animal involved was a bear.
The incident occurred near Jerome in the area of State Road 29 and U.S. 41, south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area.
Wildlife officers warned that the bear may still be in the area. Local law enforcement and FWC officers are conducting a search and securing a perimeter.
Out of caution, residents and visitors in the area have been urged to remain vigilant and avoid the location.
Florida's black bears have increasingly moved into areas near human development in recent years, particularly in rural parts of the state.
