The Trump administration has finalized a rule permitting hunters to bait bears with food such as doughnuts and bacon grease in Alaska's national preserves. The National Park Service published the final rule on October 16, restoring a practice banned by the prior administration.

The change applies across roughly 22 million acres of national preserves in Alaska. It aligns federal regulations more closely with state law, which permits bear baiting under certain conditions. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that the rule gives Alaskans a stronger voice in managing lands and wildlife they know best while protecting park resources.

This action reverses a 2024 Biden administration prohibition on the practice. The new framework reinstates a regulatory approach used for decades before recent federal restrictions. It also includes updates to other hunting, fishing, and trapping rules in Alaska's national parks and preserves.

Supporters argue the measure respects state authority under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and honors local traditions. Alaska officials and residents have long sought greater control over wildlife management on these lands. The rule takes effect in mid-November.

Critics, including some conservation groups, contend the practice is unethical and could habituate bears to human food, increasing risks to visitors. The administration maintains that the changes maintain conservation standards while reducing unnecessary federal oversight.

Bear baiting remains allowed in about a dozen states with black bear seasons. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulates the practice for both sport and subsistence hunting, with the new federal rule focusing on sport hunting in preserves.

The decision stems from an executive order issued early in the second Trump term directing the Interior Department to review and adjust wildlife rules in Alaska. It forms part of broader efforts to prioritize state-led management over expansive federal controls.