In a July 24 release from the office State Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton), Bohnak denounced a federal proposal that would ban bear baiting nationwide. In the release, Bohnak called the bill a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores the unique needs of regions like Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The bill was introduced by Representative Shri Thanendar (D), of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District (M13) on July 16, and would ban bear baiting on all federally owned land. M13 embraces part of Wayne County, including portions of Downtown Detroit, the southwest portion of the city, Mid-town, areas south of Highland Park, and the southern East Side, the district also included Grosse Pointe Park and Grosse Pointe City.

If passed, the bill would direct federal land management agencies to adopt and enforce regulations that prohibit individuals from placing food to attract bears for hunting purposes, stripping those rights from the states.. The legislation also calls for the consistent enforcement of existing rules by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which already discourage or prohibit the feeding of wildlife.

Bohnak argues that Thanedar’s legislation would prohibit bear baiting in all 50 states, including Michigan, which is a state with a high bear population.

“The Upper Peninsula is home to a significant and growing black bear population, and bear baiting is a responsible and effective wildlife management tool that helps maintain a healthy balance,” Bohnak said in the release. “Without it, we would see increased difficulty in controlling the population, leading to more conflicts with humans, including property damage and threats to public safety. We cannot treat the U.P. the same way we treat suburban towns or cities like downtown Detroit. Different regions face different challenges, and this bill fails to respect that reality.”

The Detroit News on July 19, reported that Thenadar said: “The people of 13th District care about animal rights. They care about protecting animals. I’m sure the constituents of the 13th District would view this as an unethical, cruel practice.”

Thanedar’s district, M13, does not have an established bear population, according to the Michigan DNR. Additionally, no counties in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula allow open bear hunting.

On Apr. 10, 2025, Michigan Public Radio reported that the DNR receives an average of 285 bear complaints every year, but there was a slight increase in these complaints in 2024. Last year, there were 303 complaints in counties like Marquette (41 complaints), Houghton (29), Charlevoix (19), Leelanau (16), and Grand Traverse (13). No bear complaints were reported in Wayne County. In fact, the Michigan DNR’s 2022 Bear Population Trend Analysis, there is not a significant bear population across entire Southern Michigan.

According to the DNR’s 2022 Bear Population Trend Analysis, there were 1,863 bears harvested statewide in 2021. Of those, 79% were harvested over bait. While 86% of hunters relied on bait only, their success rate was 33%, while hunters relying on dogs had a 59% success rate.

The Detroit News reported that Thanedar’s bill is almost identical to legislation of the same name, Don’t Feed the Bears Act, introduced by Republican California U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly in 2003. The bill did not pass.