Park Service final rule allows bear baiting again in Alaska preserves
- Removes 2015, 2017 and 2024 changes to Alaska park rules
- Ends permit for collecting animal parts for handicrafts
- Restores local hearings and notice before harvest closures
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0What changed The rule changes bear baiting in national preserves from prohibited under the 2024 rule to allowed for all user groups under state law.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct 16 — The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final rule that restores its 1981 framework for hunting, fishing, trapping and access in Alaska park areas, including allowing all user groups to hunt bears over bait in national preserves under state law.
The rule removes regulatory changes made in 2015, 2017 and 2024 that "departed from that framework," the agency said. NPS said Executive Order 14153 directed it to rescind the 2024 changes, and that the rule goes further to address the 2015 and 2017 changes.
NPS estimates no more than 10 bears per year (2 black bears, up to 8 brown bears) will be harvested over bait across all national preserves, according to the rule. It said this is consistent with historical levels.
The rule removes a 2017 permit requirement for collecting antlers, bones and similar materials for handicrafts. NPS said that collection remains allowed.
The rule also ends a 2017 ban on collecting live raptor chicks for falconry and restores the earlier definition of "trapping."
The rule restores a 30-day limit on emergency closures and a 12-month limit on temporary closures. Neither can be extended. It also restores hearings in the affected area before closures that affect fish and wildlife harvest, and requires notice in newspapers, on local radio and at post offices.
NPS said the rule does not change the federal subsistence priority under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA).
The rule takes effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. NPS proposed it on March 10, 2026, and received 5,172 comments.