Humane World for Animals calls bear baiting a cruel practice and the rule a reversal of critical protections
Humane World for AnimalsAnimal protection nonprofit, in a news release issued with Humane World Action Fund
Humane World for Animals says the rule reverses critical wildlife protections for bears and allows the cruel practice of bear baiting in Alaska's national preserves, giving trophy hunters the legal authority to lure bears with human food before shooting them at close range.
Responding to
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.
“The Trump administration today finalized a U.S. National Park Service rule that reverses critical wildlife protections for bears and once again allows the cruel practice of bear baiting on Alaska's national preserves.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
National Park Service finalizes rule letting sport hunters bait bears in Alaska's national preserves; animal welfare groups plan to sue
The National Park Service published a final rule on October 19, 2026, that ends its ban on sport hunters using bait to hunt black and brown bears in Alaska's national preserves and restores state-authorized harvest methods there. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says the rule restores the framework that guided Alaska park management for more than three decades and respects the state's role in managing fish and wildlife. Animal welfare and conservation groups say baiting teaches bears to associate people with food and puts visitors at risk, and two groups say they will sue. The rule takes effect November 18, 2026.
Source and context
Official statement
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Humane World for Animals and its affiliate Humane World Action Fund issued the release, which says the Trump administration finalized the Park Service rule that day, with statements from the presidents of both groups.
After the quotation
The release says the rule lets trophy hunters lure black and brown bears with donuts, bacon grease and other bait before shooting them at close range. It quotes Kitty Block, the group's president and chief executive, who calls baiting "indefensible and inexcusable as a federal policy decision" and says the group is evaluating legal options to challenge the rule in federal court.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why 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. The group calls baiting cruel and the rule a reversal of critical protections, and its president says it is evaluating a court challenge.
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- People and groups discussed
- National Park Service
More from this case
Read the full caseAnimal Wellness Action calls the rule reckless and says it will sue
Animal Wellness Action
“The organizations announced that they will sue the agency to overturn this reckless rule, which restores the widely discredited practice of bear baiting on 20 million acres of lands managed by the NPS.”Read statement
Alaska Fish and Game commissioner calls the rule a necessary return to the state-led framework
“We thank the Department of Interior and the National Park Service for making these and other changes in the rule. The change represents a necessary return to the fish and wildlife management framework established by the Alaska Constitution and reaffirmed in ANILCA, which had served Alaska for three decades”Read statement
Burgum says the final rule restores a commonsense framework for Alaska parks
“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.”Read statement
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- Humane World for Animals calls bear baiting a cruel practice and the rule a reversal of critical protections
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The Dispute Index. "Humane World for Animals calls bear baiting a cruel practice and the rule a reversal of critical protections". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/6349-humane-world-for-animals-says-the-rule-reverses