Federal Bear Baiting Rule Takes Effect
The new regulation allows hunters to use human food like bacon and doughnuts to lure bears on public lands starting mid-November.
By Noor Phillips ·
Hunters in Alaska can now use human food to lure bears onto federal public lands. The Department of the Interior published the final rule in the federal register on Friday. It will become active in mid-November 2026. The change replaces a 2024 regulation from the Biden administration that prohibited the practice.
The new policy allows the use of items such as bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps. These foods are intended to attract trophy animals at close range for shooting. The rule does not list specific bait items. Instead, it defers to state regulations that already permit baiting in many jurisdictions.
Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary, described the measure as a commonsense framework in a press release. He stated it gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting their lands and wildlife. He said the rule responds to demands from local residents.
Critics argue the move favors trophy hunters over wildlife safety. Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, called the provision cruel and dangerous. He noted the practice risks making bears more aggressive around people. Environmental groups have labeled the new measure indefensible and inexcusable.
The rule follows a series of recent changes to hunting methods in the state. These include shooting bears from helicopters and using artificial lights to draw bears from dens. Bear baiting is legal in about a dozen states. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, said hunters typically use high-fat, high-sugar food. He explained they place the bait in a steel drum and shoot the bear from a blind at short range.
The policy shift stems from an executive order signed early in Donald Trump's second administration. The order is titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential. Robertson argued the directive points to a political motive rather than careful scientific consideration. He said the practice is more extreme than traditional hunting and may not be seen as a fair chase by many hunters.
The issue has a long legal history. The Obama administration first imposed a ban. The first Trump administration reversed it. Courts upheld the Obama rule and overturned the Trump rule. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024. Arrivo said the new rule lacks the scientific process of the previous version. He noted that a lawsuit is pending, but no decision has been made yet.
