Don’t Feed the Bears Act of 2025
Summary
The "Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2025" aims to prohibit the intentional feeding of bears on Federal public lands. This includes actions defined as "bear baiting." The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce existing regulations and adopt new ones to prevent this practice.
Expected Effects
The Act will lead to stricter enforcement against bear baiting on federal lands. It will require federal agencies to create and implement regulations to prevent intentional bear feeding. Exceptions are provided for cases involving bear welfare, public safety, or authorized wildlife research.
Potential Benefits
- Reduces dangerous human-bear interactions.
- Decreases property damage caused by bears habituated to human food.
- Lowers the number of bears killed as nuisance animals.
- Promotes more natural bear behavior and reduces dependence on human-provided food.
- Aligns federal land management policies with the goal of discouraging bear feeding.
Potential Disadvantages
- May negatively impact hunting practices in states where bear baiting is currently permitted.
- Could require additional resources for enforcement and monitoring by federal agencies.
- Potential for increased costs associated with managing bear populations if baiting restrictions lead to population increases.
- Possible conflicts with state laws regarding hunting regulations.
- May face resistance from hunting groups who view baiting as a legitimate hunting method.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act aligns with the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2) of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to regulate federal lands. It also indirectly relates to the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) by regulating activities that could affect interstate commerce through tourism and wildlife management. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).