Interior Department Unleashes Bear Baiting on Alaska Federal Lands This Month
The federal government will permit hunters to use human foods like bacon and doughnuts to lure bears starting in mid-November, reversing a 2024 ban.
By Kevin Iyer ·
The US Department of the Interior published a final rule on Friday that allows hunters on Alaska federal lands to bait bears with human foods. The regulation takes effect in mid-November, ending a 2024 prohibition that had restricted the practice.
Under the new guidelines, hunters may use items such as bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps to attract bears for close-range trophy hunts. The rule defers to state regulations regarding specific food types, which currently permit baiting. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, noted that hunters typically select high-fat, high-sugar foods because they are cheap and effective. He described the standard method: placing food in a steel drum, keeping watch, and shooting the bear at short range from a nearby blind.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the measure in a press release, calling it a commonsense framework. He stated that the rule gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting their local lands, wildlife, and traditions. Burgum said the action responds directly to demands from Alaska residents.
Opponents of the rule argue it favors trophy hunters and poses risks to public safety. Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, described the practice as cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. He characterized the new measure as indefensible and inexcusable, noting that many hunters do not view baiting as a fair chase.
The change stems from an executive order titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, which Trump signed early in his second administration. Robertson argued that the order directed the reissuance of the rule, indicating a political motive rather than careful scientific consideration. He pointed out that science suggests baiting makes bears more aggressive and endangers park visitors.
The policy has a complex legal history. The Obama administration first banned baiting, a rule upheld by litigation after the first Trump administration reversed it. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024. Arrivo rejected the argument that federal deferral to the state is appropriate, stating that Congress created the federal land program to centralize decision-making power with the federal government. He said the approach is anathema to federal land management goals and raised questions about the rule's legality, noting no decision has yet been made on a related lawsuit.
