Alaska Federal Lands Reopen to Bear Baiting as Hunters Seek Trophy Kills

Hunters in Alaska will be permitted to place food lures on federal lands starting November 12, a change that reverses a 2024 ban and reignites debate over how bears are managed on public property. The United States Department of Interior published the final rule in the Federal Register on Friday, replacing the previous administration's prohibition. The new regulation allows the use of human foods such as bacon, doughnuts, and meat scraps to attract bears for close-range shooting.

The practice is designed to facilitate the harvest of trophy animals. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, explained that hunters typically select high-fat and high-sugar items because they are cheap and effective. The standard method involves placing the food in a steel drum or garbage can, monitoring it from a blind, and shooting the bear at short range. Opponents argue that this technique encourages bears to associate human food with survival, making them more aggressive around people.

Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary, stated in a press release that the rule responds to demands from Alaska residents. He characterized the measure as a commonsense framework that strengthens the voice of Alaskans in decisions regarding their lands and wildlife traditions. The rule defers to state regulations, which already allow baiting, rather than naming specific prohibited or permitted foods.

Critics view the change as a political maneuver rather than a scientific necessity. Drew Robertson, senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, described the provision as cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. He noted that many hunters do not consider baiting a fair chase, viewing it as an extreme deviation from traditional sport hunting methods.

The rule stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump early in his second administration, titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential. Robertson argued that the order’s directive to reissue the rule points to a political motive. This follows a pattern of recent federal and state moves to permit contested hunting techniques, including shooting bears from helicopters and using artificial lights to draw them from dens.

The history of this regulation has been marked by legal battles. The Obama administration first banned baiting, a move the first Trump administration reversed. Litigation eventually upheld the Obama rule and overturned the Trump reversal. The Biden administration reinstated the ban in 2024, citing science that indicated baiting endangers park visitors by altering bear behavior.

Arrivo challenged the rationale that the rule gives the state appropriate control over federal lands. He noted that Congress created the federal land program to place decision-making power with the federal government. He stated that the approach is contrary to federal land management goals of preserving wildlife diversity and raised questions about the legality of scrapping the 2024 rule, which underwent a more thorough scientific process.