Alaska Bears: New Federal Baiting Rules

The Trump administration finalized a new regulation that allows hunters to attract bears with human food on federal lands in Alaska. This change takes effect in mid-November and replaces a 2024 rule from the Biden administration that had prohibited the practice. The new directive permits the use of items like bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps. Hunters often use these foods to draw trophy animals into close range for shooting. Critics describe the shift as a political favor aimed at satisfying trophy hunters.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the move in a press release issued this week. He stated that the rule responds to requests from Alaska residents. Burgum called the new framework a commonsense approach. He argued that it gives local people a stronger voice in decisions about their lands and wildlife traditions. The department published the rule in the Federal Register on Friday.

The federal rule does not list specific food items. It leaves the details to state regulations, which already allow baiting. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, explained that hunters typically choose the cheapest and most effective options. These usually involve high-fat and high-sugar foods. Hunters place the food in steel drums or garbage cans and wait nearby. They then shoot the bear from a short distance, often from a blind.

Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, expressed dismay over the return of the practice. He described the baiting provision as cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. Environmental groups have labeled the new measure indefensible and inexcusable. Robertson noted that the method raises questions about the spirit of sport hunting. He said many hunters would not view this as a fair chase compared to traditional methods.

This change follows several other recent moves by federal and Alaska officials. Those moves include allowing the shooting of bears from helicopters and caribou from motor boats. Officials also permitted killing wolf pups in their dens and using artificial lights to draw bears out. Bear baiting is not unique to Alaska, as about a dozen other states allow similar practices. However, more states currently prohibit the method.

The policy stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump early in his second term. The order, titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, directed the rule to be reissued. Robertson argued that this direct order suggests a political motive rather than a careful scientific review. The issue has a long history in federal courts. The Obama administration first imposed a ban, and the first Trump administration reversed it. Courts upheld the Obama rule and overturned the initial Trump rule. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024 based on science showing that baiting makes bears more aggressive around people.

Arrivo challenged the idea that the rule gives the state appropriate control. He pointed out that the lands are federal, and Congress created the program to give decision-making power to the federal government. He said the approach is at odds with the goals of preserving wildlife diversity on federal land. Although no lawsuit has been decided yet, Arrivo noted that discarding the 2024 rule raises questions about the legality of the new measure.