National Park Service finalizes rule letting sport hunters bait bears in Alaska's national preserves; animal welfare groups plan to sue
The Park Service lifted its ban on bear baiting by sport hunters in Alaska's national preserves. Interior says it restores state wildlife management; animal welfare groups say baited bears endanger visitors, and two plan to sue.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 allows sport hunting in national preserves under applicable state and federal law. The Park Service barred sport hunters from baiting bears in the preserves in 2015, lifted the ban in 2020 and reinstated it in 2024. An executive order directed the agency to rescind the 2024 changes, and it proposed doing so on March 10, 2026. The final rule estimates that no more than 10 bears a year will be taken over bait across all preserves and says state permits, setbacks and baiting clinics address safety risks. Subsistence hunters, whose harvest is managed under federal rules, could already use bait.
People in this case
Doug BurgumDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: March 10, 2026 to October 19, 2026
March 2026
Park Service proposes ending its ban on bear baiting in Alaska's national preserves
The National Park Service publishes a proposed rule to rescind its 2015, 2017 and 2024 changes to Alaska hunting and trapping regulations, including the ban on harvesting bears over bait in national preserves. It later extends the comment period on April 10, 2026.
[01]National Park Service
The final rule, effective November 18, 2026, rescinds the Park Service's 2015, 2017 and 2024 changes to its Alaska hunting, trapping and closure regulations, including the ban on harvesting bears over bait in national preserves.
Alaska; Wildlife, Harvest, and Access (National Park Service final rule, 91 FR 65985) · National Park Service91 FR 65985-66000; Finalized Changes, part II (Harvesting Bears Over Bait), and response to comment 6
October 2026
Interior announces the final rule
The Interior Department and the Park Service announce a final rule restoring state-authorized wildlife harvest methods in Alaska's national preserves, with statements from Secretary Doug Burgum and Alaska Regional Director Don Striker.
[02]U.S. Department of the Interior
Interior Department announcement of the final rule, with statements from Secretary Doug Burgum and Alaska Regional Director Don Striker of the National Park Service.
Interior Finalizes Rule Restoring Alaska-Specific Management Framework for National Parks and Preserves · U.S. Department of the InteriorPress release, paragraphs 1-6Two animal welfare groups say they will sue to overturn the rule
Reaction
Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy announce that they will sue the National Park Service to restore the prohibition on bear baiting in Alaska's national preserves.
[03]Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy to Sue NPS Over Final Rule Restoring Bear Baiting on Alaska National Preserves
The two groups announce that they will sue the National Park Service to overturn the final rule, with statements from president Wayne Pacelle and senior counsel Kate Schultz.
Final rule is published in the Federal Register
Source release
The final rule is published at 91 FR 65985. It takes effect November 18, 2026. The Park Service estimates that no more than 10 bears a year, 2 black bears and up to 8 brown bears, will be harvested over bait across all national preserves.
[01]National Park Service
The final rule, effective November 18, 2026, rescinds the Park Service's 2015, 2017 and 2024 changes to its Alaska hunting, trapping and closure regulations, including the ban on harvesting bears over bait in national preserves.
Alaska; Wildlife, Harvest, and Access (National Park Service final rule, 91 FR 65985) · National Park Service91 FR 65985-66000; Finalized Changes, part II (Harvesting Bears Over Bait), and response to comment 6
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
National Park Service
Harvesting bears over bait in Alaska has caused no notable public safety incidents or population-level effects since the state began regulating it in 1982.
What is disputed
The Park Service's 2024 rule relied in part on a 2018 study of human-bear conflicts and an informal survey of bear biologists. The final rule says that study concerns campgrounds and other places where people gather, not remote bait stations. Humane World for Animals cites a 2024 peer-reviewed study by Park Service and outside biologists that found bears defending bait sites pose a "moderate to high" risk of causing injury or death to park visitors.
Sources (2)
- Alaska; Wildlife, Harvest, and Access (National Park Service final rule, 91 FR 65985) · National Park Service91 FR 65985-66000; Finalized Changes, part II (Harvesting Bears Over Bait), and response to comment 6
- Trump administration reinstitutes bear baiting on Alaska national preserves · Humane World for AnimalsNews release, opening paragraphs and statements of Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Disputed claim
Humane World for Animals
Baiting bears with human food teaches them to associate people with food and increases the likelihood of dangerous encounters with visitors to Alaska's public lands.
What is disputed
The Park Service's final rule says state regulations require permits, registered bait stations, minimum setbacks from roads, trails, dwellings and public facilities, and completion of a baiting clinic, and that the state's decades of experience without documented public safety incidents outweigh that concern.
Sources (2)
- Trump administration reinstitutes bear baiting on Alaska national preserves · Humane World for AnimalsNews release, opening paragraphs and statements of Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
- Alaska; Wildlife, Harvest, and Access (National Park Service final rule, 91 FR 65985) · National Park Service91 FR 65985-66000; Finalized Changes, part II (Harvesting Bears Over Bait), and response to comment 6
Response record
Responses
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1 matching response. Newest first.
Doug BurgumU.S. Secretary of the Interior, in the department's announcement of the final ruleDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Burgum's statement begins by saying that for more than three decades Alaska's national parks and preserves were managed under a framework that recognized Alaska's unique circumstances and respected the state's role in managing fish and wildlife.
"This final rule restores that commonsense framework and gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions affecting the lands, wildlife and traditions they know best, while ensuring the National Park Service continues to protect park resources for future generations."
Defended or excusedCase context: National Park Service finalizes rule letting sport hunters bait bears in Alaska's national preserves; animal welfare groups plan to sue
Full statement and sources
In Interior's announcement of the final rule, Burgum says it restores a commonsense framework for Alaska's national parks and preserves, gives Alaskans a stronger voice in decisions about lands and wildlife, and keeps the Park Service's duty to protect park resources.
After the statement
The announcement then quotes Don Striker, the Park Service's Alaska regional director, who says the rule restores a longstanding framework that recognizes the state's role in wildlife management. It adds that the rule does not amend ANILCA or change the federal subsistence priority.
Interior Finalizes Rule Restoring Alaska-Specific Management Framework for National Parks and Preserves · U.S. Department of the InteriorPress release, paragraphs 1-6Trump administration moves to reopen Alaska national preserves to bear baiting by sport huntersArticle, paragraphs 1-16Why this label?
The reference point is the National Park Service's final rule allowing sport hunters to use bait to hunt bears in Alaska's national preserves, part of its restoration of state-authorized harvest methods there. Burgum announces the rule and praises it as restoring a commonsense framework that respects the state's role in managing wildlife. His statement speaks to the rule as a whole rather than to baiting specifically.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(6)
Original text
Alaska; Wildlife, Harvest, and Access (National Park Service final rule, 91 FR 65985)
Relevant passage: 91 FR 65985-66000; Finalized Changes, part II (Harvesting Bears Over Bait), and response to comment 6
About this source
The final rule, effective November 18, 2026, rescinds the Park Service's 2015, 2017 and 2024 changes to its Alaska hunting, trapping and closure regulations, including the ban on harvesting bears over bait in national preserves.
- Author
- National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump administration moves to reopen Alaska national preserves to bear baiting by sport hunters (Alaska Beacon, via Yahoo News)
Relevant passage: Article, paragraphs 1-14
About this source
Alaska Beacon report on the final rule as first published on October 16, 2026, carried in full by Yahoo News, with statements from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang and conservation groups.
- Author
- Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump administration moves to reopen Alaska national preserves to bear baiting by sport hunters
Relevant passage: Article, paragraphs 1-16
About this source
Alaska Beacon report on the final rule, republished by Alaska Public Media, with statements from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Center for Biological Diversity.
- Author
- Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy to Sue NPS Over Final Rule Restoring Bear Baiting on Alaska National Preserves
Relevant passage: Press release, paragraphs 1-6
About this source
The two groups announce that they will sue the National Park Service to overturn the final rule, with statements from president Wayne Pacelle and senior counsel Kate Schultz.
- Author
- Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Trump administration reinstitutes bear baiting on Alaska national preserves
Relevant passage: News release, opening paragraphs and statements of Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
About this source
Humane World for Animals release on the final rule, with statements from the presidents of Humane World Action Fund and Humane World for Animals.
- Author
- Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Interior Finalizes Rule Restoring Alaska-Specific Management Framework for National Parks and Preserves
Relevant passage: Press release, paragraphs 1-6
About this source
Interior Department announcement of the final rule, with statements from Secretary Doug Burgum and Alaska Regional Director Don Striker of the National Park Service.
- Author
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- National Park Service finalizes rule letting sport hunters bait bears in Alaska's national preserves; animal welfare groups plan to sue
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/nps-alaska-national-preserves-bear-baiting-rule
The Dispute Index. "National Park Service finalizes rule letting sport hunters bait bears in Alaska's national preserves; animal welfare groups plan to sue". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/cases/nps-alaska-national-preserves-bear-baiting-rule