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.
Opponents say the practice will cause bears to be more aggressive around humans, and allege that the rule change is a political gift to largely rightwing trophy hunters. The rule replaces a 2024 Biden administration rule that banned the practice, and environmental groups criticized the move as “indefensible and inexcusable”.
“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, senior regulatory specialist for Humane World for Animals.
The US interior department on Friday published the rule on the federal register, and it will take effect in mid-November. It marks the latest in a series of rule changes at the state and federal levels since 2023 that allow trophy hunters to use what critics say are barbaric and unethical practices to kill animals.
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I theory this could select for bears that are already attracted to human food. This does remind me of the stories about the libertarian town of Grafton (that failed as they all do) where they were having serious problems with bears. Libertarians didn’t want to pay taxes or have odinances on trash collection so the bears showed up to eat the garbage, including the cat litter full of toxoplasma gondii, and some people were actively feeding them. Including one lady who was feeding them dozens of donuts in the middle of town. People were getting mauled.