Burgum’s Interior Department Sets November Start Date for Alaska Bear Baiting

The Department of the Interior published a final rule in the Federal Register on Friday, allowing hunters to use human food as bait on federal lands in Alaska. The regulation takes effect in mid-November and reverses a 2024 policy from the Biden administration that prohibited the practice.

The new rule does not specify which foods hunters may use, deferring instead to state regulations that currently permit baiting. Nicholas Arrivo, a managing attorney at Animal Protection Law, noted that hunters typically choose high-fat and high-sugar items because they are cost-effective. He described the standard procedure as placing food in a steel drum or garbage can, monitoring it, and shooting the bear at close range from a blind.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the move in a press release, characterizing the rule as a commonsense framework. He stated that the decision responds to demands from Alaska residents and grants them a stronger voice in decisions affecting local lands and wildlife traditions.

Critics argue the change prioritizes political interests over scientific advice. Drew Robertson, senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals, called the baiting provision cruel and dangerous to both wildlife and the public. He described the practice as an extreme form of hunting that many traditionalists would not consider a fair chase.

The rule stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump early in his second term, titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential. Robertson argued that because the order directed the rule to be reissued, the decision reflects political motive rather than careful consideration. This move follows other recent federal and state actions to permit contested hunting methods, including shooting bears from helicopters and using artificial lights to draw them out of dens.

Legal challenges are anticipated. Arrivo rejected the argument that the rule gives the state appropriate control, noting that Congress created the federal land program to place decision-making power with the federal government. He stated that the approach conflicts with federal land management goals of preserving wildlife diversity and raised questions about the legality of the rule, which replaced a 2024 measure that underwent a more robust scientific process.