Don’t Feed the Bears Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4422

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-15: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-03-26T08:06:29Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2025" aims to ban the intentional feeding of bears on federal public lands, specifically to eliminate the hunting practice known as "bear baiting" (where food is used to attract bears for easier hunting). This is intended to reduce dangerous encounters between humans and bears by preventing bears from becoming habituated to human food, which can lead to property damage, safety risks, and the killing of "nuisance" bears.

Key Provisions

• Congressional Findings: The bill outlines 13 facts supporting the ban, including how federal agencies already discourage bear feeding for the public, the risks of bait stations (piles of human-scented foods like animal parts or pastries left on the ground), increased bear populations and boldness toward humans, property damage costs, occasional attacks, and success of past bans in national parks. It notes that most states allowing bear hunting prohibit baiting and that alternatives exist.
• Enforcement in National Parks: The Secretary of the Interior must enforce an existing rule (36 CFR 2.2(a)(2)) to prohibit feeding wildlife, extending it specifically to ban bear baiting in National Park System lands.
• Enforcement in Wildlife Refuges: The Secretary of the Interior must enforce an existing rule (50 CFR 32.2(h)) to ban bear baiting and related practices on national wildlife refuge areas.
• New Regulations for Other Lands:
• The Secretary of the Interior (for Bureau of Land Management lands) and the Secretary of Agriculture (for National Forest System lands) must issue and enforce new rules prohibiting intentional bear feeding, including for baiting, within one year of the bill's enactment.
• Exceptions: All regulations include limited allowances for extraordinary cases, such as when feeding is needed for a bear's welfare, public safety, or approved wildlife research.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Strengthens enforcement of current regulations in national parks and wildlife refuges by explicitly applying them to bear baiting, which was previously allowed in some cases where state hunting laws permitted it.
• Introduces entirely new prohibitions on bear feeding and baiting for Bureau of Land Management and National Forest lands, where no such uniform federal rules currently exist, overriding allowances based on state laws.
• Aligns federal policy with existing bans on baiting migratory birds, creating consistency across wildlife management.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Federal land managers (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service) will need to update policies, train staff, and increase enforcement efforts, potentially requiring resources for monitoring and removing abandoned bait stations.
• Citizens and Hunters: Limits hunting options in states where bear baiting is legal under state law, as federal lands (about 28% of U.S. land) will no longer allow it; this could affect licensed hunters but promotes safer recreation on public lands by reducing bear-human conflicts.
• Wildlife and Environment: Expected to decrease bear habituation to human food, lower birth rates in overfed bear populations, reduce property damage (currently in the millions annually), and prevent bear deaths from conflicts, similar to declines seen after past national park bans.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it supports broader U.S. wildlife conservation efforts that could influence cross-border bear management in shared ecosystems (e.g., with Canada).

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Interior and Agriculture Departments, including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service, as they must implement and enforce the rules.
• Hunters and Sportsmen: Particularly those in states permitting bear baiting (e.g., parts of the Midwest and South), who will lose access to this method on federal lands.
• Wildlife Advocates and Conservation Groups: Benefit from reduced human-bear conflicts and alignment with ethical hunting practices.
• General Public and Recreation Users: Gain safer experiences on federal lands through fewer bold or aggressive bears; includes campers, hikers, and residents near public lands who face property risks.
• State Governments: May see tensions with their hunting regulations, as federal rules supersede on public lands.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill leverages federal authority over public lands under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3), allowing Congress to regulate for conservation and safety; it does not preempt state laws entirely but prioritizes federal standards on federal property. Exceptions ensure flexibility to avoid challenges under due process or takings claims.
• Constitutional: No major issues anticipated, as it regulates conduct on federal lands without infringing on private property or free speech; aligns with precedents like national park wildlife protections.
• Political: Could spark debate between hunting rights advocates (e.g., supported by groups like the NRA) and conservationists/environmentalists (e.g., backed by groups like the Humane Society), highlighting tensions in wildlife policy. As a bipartisan effort (introduced by Democrats but addressing broad safety concerns), it may appeal across aisles but face opposition in hunting-heavy states.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-15: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-07-15: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-07-15: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-15: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Don’t Feed the Bears Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-15 — PDF (5 pages)