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HR4422119th Congress

Don’t Feed the Bears Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

Introduced

Summary

Nationwide ban on intentionally feeding bears on Federal public lands. The bill would prohibit feeding and baiting of bears on National Park System lands, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management lands, and National Forest System lands and require agencies to adopt and enforce rules to stop bear baiting.

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  • Families and visitors: Campers and park visitors would be barred from intentionally feeding bears on Federal lands, reducing attractants that draw bears into campsites and recreation areas.
  • Hunters: Hunters who place bait to lure bears would be prohibited from doing so on Federal public lands even where State law permits baiting.
  • Federal land managers: The Interior and Agriculture Departments would have one year to issue final regulations for BLM and National Forest lands. The bill also directs enforcement of existing National Park and refuge feeding prohibitions against bear baiting.
  • Wildlife and public safety: The bill targets bait stations that can contain hundreds of pounds of human-scented food and aims to reduce bear habituation that the findings link to increased bear encounters and millions of dollars in property damage annually.
  • Exceptions: Agencies may allow feeding only in extraordinary cases for bear welfare, public safety, or authorized wildlife research.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

No feeding or baiting bears on public lands

This bill would ban intentionally feeding bears on National Forest and BLM lands. The Interior and Agriculture Secretaries would have to issue final rules within one year. Bear baiting and feeding to attract bears would be enforced as banned in national parks and wildlife refuges upon enactment. Visitors and hunters on these federal lands would face these limits.

Rare exceptions for bear feeding

If enacted, the rules would include a narrow exception. A Secretary could allow feeding only in extraordinary cases for bear welfare, public safety, or authorized research. This exception would apply to parks, refuges, BLM lands, and national forests.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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