Bison Management on the North Rim

One of the reasons visitors love Grand Canyon is because of the amazing wildlife the park contains. But with one species in particular, there is too much of a good thing: the North Rim bison herd, introduced more than 100 years ago, has become too large for the land to sustain it. 

Bison are marvelous creatures, but they are not native to the high-altitude, forested portion of the Kaibab Plateau that contains the North Rim. The herd negatively impacts vegetation, water resources, and even archaeological sites. 

The National Park Service is working to reduce the size of the park's bison herd. These efforts are paying dividends. 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.

Yet, no consistent funding exists to support this pressing need. Urgent action is required if Grand Canyon National Park is to meet its goal of reducing the bison herd.

Conservation and culture: How you can help

Your generous gift will:

• Allow park staff, in partnership with the InterTribal Buffalo Council, to reduce the bison herd through annual live captures.
• Enable significant repairs to the bison corral, thus ensuring staff safety and long-term success for live capture efforts.
• Support relocation of North Rim bison to affiliated tribes and tribal lands, an act of great cultural significance.