Grand Canyon bison relocated from North Rim to tribe in South Dakota

PHOENIX — Wildlife managers were able to successfully relocate 100 Grand Canyon bison from the North Rim to a tribe in South Dakota as part of an effort to reduce overpopulation at the park.

The bison were transferred to the Intertribal Buffalo Council, which then took the animals to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.

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

Why are Grand Canyon bison being relocated?

The National Park Service (NPS) began the process to manage overpopulation at the park in 2014 and a formal plan, called the Initial Bison Herd Reduction Plan, was finalized in 2017.

Relocation efforts began in 2018 and have resulted in 306 bison being removed from the North Rim. Of those, 282 have been transferred to eight American Indian tribes as part of an agreement with the Intertribal Buffalo Council.

In addition to South Dakota, bison have been moved from the Grand Canyon to Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The Grand Canyon bison population sits at 378 as of this summer, according to NPS.

Follow @DannyShapiro13