Alaska's Federal Lands Open to Bear Baiting Starting Next Month

The US Department of the Interior finalized a rule on Friday that permits hunters on federal lands in Alaska to lure bears using human food items such as bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps. The measure takes effect in mid-November and replaces a 2024 regulation from the Biden administration that prohibited the practice. Supporters argue the change aligns with state regulations, while critics contend it creates a safety risk for both wildlife and the public.

The rule does not specify which foods may be used, leaving that determination to state laws. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, noted that hunters typically select high-fat, high-sugar items because they are cheap and effective. He described the common method as placing food in a steel drum or garbage can, monitoring it, and shooting the bear at close range from a concealed position.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the decision in a press release, stating it responds to demands from Alaska residents. He characterized the rule as a commonsense framework that provides Alaskans with a stronger voice in managing the lands and wildlife they know best. The move follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump early in his second administration titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, which directed the reissuance of the rule.

The policy has a contentious history involving multiple administrative reversals. The Obama administration first imposed a ban, which the first Trump administration reversed. Courts later upheld the Obama rule and struck down the first Trump rule. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024, citing scientific evidence that baiting makes bears more aggressive and endangers park visitors.

Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, called the new provision cruel and dangerous. He argued that the practice is more extreme than traditional hunting and that many hunters would not consider it a fair chase. Robertson suggested the rule stems from a political motive rather than careful regulatory consideration.

This decision is part of a series of recent moves by federal and state officials to allow contested hunting methods. These include shooting bears from helicopters, hunting swimming caribou from motorboats, killing wolf pups in their dens, and using artificial lights to attract bears. Although about a dozen states currently allow bear baiting, more states prohibit it.

Arrivo rejected the argument that the rule appropriately grants control to the state, noting that Congress created the federal land program to keep decision-making power at the federal level. He stated that the approach conflicts with federal goals to preserve wildlife diversity. No lawsuit has been filed yet, but he said replacing the 2024 rule, which underwent a detailed scientific review, raises questions about the new rule's legality.