The Trump administration is pushing to allow bear baiting again in Alaska’s national preserves. Previously, restrictions on bear baiting in the preserves were implemented during the Biden and Obama administrations. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced plans to roll back those restrictions. If the rule passes, Alaska’s state hunting regulations would apply in national preserves.

Bear baiting is already allowed in many other areas of Alaska under state rules. According to alaskabeacon.com, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the change would restore the state’s authority to manage hunting and reduce federal overreach.

“For decades, Alaska’s national preserves were managed under a framework that respected the State’s authority, protected subsistence uses and ensured conservation of wildlife resources,” Burgum said in a statement. “This proposed rule restores that balance. It reduces unnecessary federal overreach, aligns federal regulations with state law, and honors the commitments Congress made in ANILCA.”

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Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang welcomed the proposal, saying it supports the traditions and cultural practices of Alaskans who rely on the land.

“It is refreshing to see a federal agency recognize the state’s role as the primary manager of fish and wildlife within its borders and affirm the importance that federal actions not undermine that foundational responsibility,” Vincent-Lang said in a statement. “These changes support the cultural heritage and long-standing traditions of Alaskans who use these lands to fulfill their subsistence needs and continue to pass down a way of life to future generations of Alaskans.”

Animal rights groups, however, strongly oppose the move arguing that bear baiting disrupts natural wildlife behavior and could create safety concerns for visitors.