Protecting Bears
Protecting bears from baiting and exploitation for their parts
We are working to safeguard North American bears from unethical baiting and killing and the illicit trade in bear parts. Our holistic campaign strikes at the heart of these issues, combining legislative advocacy, enforcement support, and public education to ensure wild bears remain wild — and protected.
Don’t Feed the Bears Act
We are the architects of the Don’t Feed the Bears Act to halt the unsporting practice of luring bears with food waste, including donuts, grease, and rotting meat, and to shoot them with their head in a barrel. Our investigations determined that bear baiters shoot more than 10,000 bears a year on our federal lands. Such baiting not only degrades bear health and orphans cubs — it also increases disease spread and human–bear conflicts.
Bear Poaching Elimination Act
In addition to ending baiting, we are championing the Bear Poaching Elimination Act, which criminalizes the interstate and international trafficking of bear gallbladders and bile, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Bears suffer slow, agonizing deaths in bile farms or on poaching operations. We want to close U.S. markets and build on state-based policies (40 states outlaw the trade) forbidding trafficking in bear gallbladders and bile.
Holistic Protection: Feeding, Baiting, and Trafficking
Our campaign framework:
- Legislate: Support federal bills to ban baiting and trafficking.
- Coordinate enforcement: Work with agencies like the USDA, FBI, USFWS, and state game departments to ensure strong compliance and prosecutions.
In 2024, the National Park Service banned bear baiting on 20 million acres of national preserves in Alaska. That rulemaking, which was grounded not only on sporting conduct but also public safety, is now under attack. We’ll do all we can to defend it. And we’re urging Congress to expand those protections nationwide.
By addressing all facets — from human-sourced food to the illegal parts trade — our campaign aims to build a future where bears live free, healthy, and respected. Join us in restoring balance and protecting these majestic animals.
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