Bison jam on the North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park / Rebecca Latson

In 2019, Grand Canyon National Park biologists began piloting bison live capture and relocation, capturing 88 animals and relocating them to five American Indian Tribes through an agreement with the Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council since this program began. Those captured animals augment existing herds managed by these Tribes. In addition to this, National Park Service and USGS biologists placed GPS collars on 25 animals to help with the population estimates, migration patterns, and temporal locations. The live capture and relocation operations will be continued by Grand Canyon in the fall of 2021.

However, the current “distribution, abundance, density and expected growth of the bison herd on the North Rim” is causing concern within the NPS regarding increased impacts on such things as water, soils, vegetation, and archeological sites. Because of the bison impacts on the park’s environment, the NPS, in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), is looking for skilled volunteers to assist with the removal of some bison on the North Rim for the fall of 2021. Reduction of the herd will “protect the park ecosystem, resources and values,” and this effort to reduce bison to a more manageable herd size is supported via consultation with the public and traditionally associated Tribes as well as in the 2017 Environmental Assessment conducted by the NPS, the State of Arizona, and the US Forest Service.

Those interested in a volunteer position should submit an application via www.arizonastewards.com, beginning May 3, 12:00 a.m. MST (Arizona) through May 4, 11:59 p.m. MST (Arizona), 2021. Only 25 applicants will be selected to form the pool from which 12 qualified individuals will be chosen to become a skilled volunteer. Selection will be via a random lottery system and selected individuals will be contacted by the NPS by May 17, 2021. At the end of the week, volunteers will be given up to one bison in exchange for removal by the AZGFD. Note: Employees of the NPS or other Department of the Interior agencies and the AZGFD are not eligible to apply.

Those applying for volunteer positions must:

• Be U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older, with a valid photo ID
• Have the ability to purchase and pass a background investigation and have no criminal or wildlife violations
• Self-certify a high level of physical fitness ability
• Have a firearm safety certification and pass a marksmanship proficiency test (3 of 5 shots in a 4-inch circle at 100 yards)
• Provide their own equipment, firearm, lodging, food and field dressing supplies
• Be available for the entirety of one of the assigned lethal removal operational periods, of which an individual may not participate in more than one: Sept. 20-24, 2021; Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2021 Oct. 18-22, 2021; Oct. 25-29, 2021
• Meet all additional requirements listed on www.arizonastewards.com when the application period opens and the NPS FAQ page.

There will not be an opportunity to correct applications, once submitted. Detailed information can be found on the links listed above, and questions may be submitted to [email protected]. For more information regarding bison impacts and monitoring, click here.