Falsehoods to be dismantled
Below are the words of Roberto Failoni, Councillor for Crafts, Commerce, Tourism, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing of the Autonomous Province of Trento: “These days there's been talk of "bear feeders for better hunting" or "bear traps," all falsehoods that need to be clearly debunked. Feeders are simple wooden structures, used in the winter, when hunting is practically closed. They help roe deer and red deer (but also mouflon and chamois) survive snowy winters, when food is difficult to find and mortality increases, in a context in which wolves are already significantly preying on ungulates.".
They are not used to "lure" wildlife
"The wintering sites where the feeding stations are located do not coincide with the areas frequented by ungulates in summer and autumn during the hunting season. Talk of baiting for hunting is false and specious: it's a narrative constructed solely to delegitimize regulated hunting. With the new Provincial Wildlife Plan approved in 2025, we eliminated feed: today only hay and alfalfa are used. This reduces the concentration of animals and makes foraging more balanced and respectful of natural balances.".
"Do they attract bears?" Another fake news story.
"During the winter, bears hibernate or are at least very active and certainly don't wander around looking for hay they don't eat. In any case, provincial regulations are very attentive to situations where bear-related issues may arise. Accusing feeders of "attracting bears" is therefore pure propaganda, not reality. Feeders also serve road safety: by placing them in strategic locations, they keep deer and roe deer off highways during the winter, reducing the risk of accidents for those traveling at night or at dawn. The Council of State's ruling did not introduce a general ban on feeding: it calls for further investigation, but recognizes the Province's role in wildlife management and the discretion to decide whether or not to allow feeding. Those who today exult against feeders are celebrating a Pyrrhic victory. We will continue to defend serious wildlife management, public safety, and responsible hunting, deeply rooted in the Trentino region!".
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