100 Bison Successfully Relocated From Grand Canyon's North Rim

Grand Canyon wildlife managers successfully relocated 100 bison from the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in mid-September. All bison were transferred to the Intertribal Buffalo Council (https://itbcbuffalonation.org/), which transported them to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota (https://www.cheyenneriversioux.com/).

Since reduction efforts began in 2018, park staff have removed 306 bison from the North Rim, with 282 transferred to eight different American Indian tribes through an agreement with the Intertribal Buffalo Council.

In 2014, the National Park Service (NPS) initiated a science-based planning process to manage bison overpopulation at Grand Canyon National Park. By 2017, using the best available science and working closely with the public, the state of Arizona, and American Indian tribes, park managers finalized the Initial Bison Herd Reduction Plan. This plan aims to reduce the herd through live capture and transfer, as well as limited lethal removal. The 2024 summer population estimate for the herd was approximately 378 animals.

"This successful relocation is a testament to the collaborative efforts of all our partners," said Grand Canyon Superintendent Ed Keable. "It represents a significant step toward achieving our long-term goals for bison management and conservation."

Grand Canyon managers extend their thanks to the multiple agencies and organizations involved in bison management on the Kaibab Plateau. The NPS continues to collaborate closely with partners at the Intertribal Buffalo Council, Arizona Game And Fish Department, U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Forest Service, and the NPS Office of Public Health to implement this science-based relocation as outlined in the 2017 Initial Bison Herd Reduction Plan (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/project).

For more information on bison management at Grand Canyon National Park, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/bison.htm