Trump rule allows bear baiting in Alaska with human food

Critics warn of public safety risk as Interior Department replaces Biden-era ban

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Updated24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

A new rule from the Trump administration permits hunters to bait bears on federal lands in Alaska using human foods such as doughnuts and bacon, replacing a ban imposed by the Biden administration in 2024. The Interior Department published the rule on Friday, and it is set to take effect in mid-November.

The rule allows hunters to place bait, typically high-fat and high-sugar foods like doughnuts and bacon scraps, in drums to lure bears to close range before shooting them from a nearby blind. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum described the measure as a "commonsense framework" that gives Alaskans a stronger voice over local wildlife and traditions, and which was developed in response to demands from Alaska residents. The change follows an executive order by President Donald Trump titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential.

Environmental and animal welfare groups strongly oppose the rule. Drew Robertson, a senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, said bear baiting is "cruel and dangerous, not only to wildlife but the public as well." Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, said the move raises questions about its legality, as federal lands are meant to be governed by federal decision-making power, not state control. Arrivo noted that the 2024 Biden ban was based on a robust scientific process showing baiting makes bears more aggressive toward humans.

The rule continues a legal back-and-forth that has spanned four administration periods. The practice was first banned under Barack Obama, allowed under the first Trump administration, overturned in court, reinstated by Joe Biden, and now allowed again. It is part of a broader trend in Alaska that has expanded controversial hunting methods in recent years, including shooting bears from helicopters and killing wolf pups in their dens.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The rule could increase the risk of aggressive bear encounters in parks and public lands, potentially endangering visitors and residents.
It reflects a major shift in federal land management, prioritising state authority over federal conservation science and precedent.
The decision extends a pattern of deregulating trophy hunting practices, testing limits on ethical hunting standards.

Background

The practice of bear baiting has been a flashpoint in Alaska for over a decade, with federal policy oscillating between administrations. The Obama administration first banned it, the first Trump administration allowed it, a court upheld the Obama ban, and the Biden administration reinstated it in 2024. The current change is a direct result of President Trump's executive order Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, issued early in his second term. While roughly a dozen states permit some form of bear baiting, its application on federal lands is particularly contentious given the federal government's role in managing those lands.

Key Perspectives

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum: described the rule as a commonsense framework that gives Alaskans a stronger voice in managing their lands, wildlife and traditions. Drew Robertson, Humane World for Animals: called the rule change indefensible and inexcusable, and said the bear baiting component is cruel and dangerous to wildlife and the public, with many hunters viewing it as an unfair practice. Nicholas Arrivo, Animal Protection Law: argued that the rule undermines federal land management goals of preserving wildlife diversity and that the process raises questions about the legality of the rule.

What to Watch

A legal challenge from environmental groups arguing the rule change did not follow proper scientific or administrative procedure.
The impact on bear behaviour in Alaska's national parks and potential risks to the summer tourist season in 2027.
Congressional oversight hearings on the legal authority of the executive order versus the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

Sources

New Trump rule allows hunters to bait bears in Alaska with doughnuts, bacon and more · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe Trump rule allows bear baiting in Alaska with human food.World news | The Guardian: “A new Trump administration rule allows hunters to bait bears on federal lands in Alaska with bacon, doughnuts, meat scraps or other human foods typically used to help kill the trophy animals at close range.”
SupportedCritics warn of a public-safety risk as the Interior Department replaces the Biden-era ban.World news | The Guardian: “Opponents say the practice will cause bears to be more aggressive around humans”
Partly supportedThe rule permits hunters to use doughnuts and bacon scraps as bait.World news | The Guardian: “The federal rule does not list specific foods that are allowed, but it defers to state rules, which allow for baiting, and hunters typically use “the cheapest and most effective food, which is high fat and high sugar””
SupportedThe Interior Department published the rule on Friday.World news | The Guardian: “The US interior department on Friday published the rule on the federal register”
SupportedThe rule is set to take effect in mid-November.World news | The Guardian: “it will take effect in mid-November.”
SupportedDoug Burgum described the measure as a “commonsense framework” that gives Alaskans a stronger voice.World news | The Guardian: “it was a “commonsense framework and gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting the lands, wildlife and traditions they know best”.”
SupportedBurgum said the rule was developed in response to demands from Alaska residents.World news | The Guardian: “Doug Burgum, the secretary of the interior, wrote in a press release that the latest rule was developed in response to demands by Alaska residents”
SupportedThe change follows Trump’s executive order titled “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.”World news | The Guardian: “The rule change came at the direction of Donald Trump in an executive order, called Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential”
Not in the sourcesDrew Robertson called the decision “indefensible and inexcusable.”World news | The Guardian: “environmental groups criticized the move as “indefensible and inexcusable”.”
SupportedRobertson said bear baiting is “cruel and dangerous, not only to wildlife but the public as well.”World news | The Guardian: ““We are discouraged to see this rule come back, specifically the bear baiting piece which is cruel and dangerous, not only to wildlife but the public as well,” said Drew Robertson”
SupportedArrivo said federal lands are meant to be governed by federal decision-making power, not state control, and questioned the rule’s legality.World news | The Guardian: “the lands are federal and Congress created the federal land program to give the federal government decision-making power, not state governments, Arrivo said.”
Partly supportedArrivo said the 2024 ban relied on a robust scientific process showing baiting makes bears more aggressive toward humans.World news | The Guardian: “The Biden administration then reimplemented the rule in 2024, largely because science shows that the practice will make bears more aggressive”

Corrections

24 October 2026An earlier version of this story attributed the description "indefensible and inexcusable" to Drew Robertson. The source attributed that description to environmental groups generally, not Robertson.

24 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the legal back-and-forth had spanned three administrations. It spans four administration periods, including both Trump administrations.