Spring 2020 Guide Training Seminar Update ELK MANAGEMENT

South Rim of the

Traditional territory of: , , and Hualapai Tribes; Kaibab, Las Vegas, and Moapa Bands of Paiute Indians; Nation; Paiute Indian Tribe of ; San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe; The Pueblo of Zuni; and the - Nation BACKGROUND

• Current elk population introduced to AZ from MT in 1929 after native Merriam’s elk extirpated. • Introduced elk migrated to the South Rim; first confirmed in the park in 1966 • Since then they’ve become very habituated • They can be aggressive when in rut in the fall or with young in the spring • Attracted to human supplemented water and food sources • Estimated to be ~200 elk occupying the South Rim (2015 genetics study) CURRENT WORK

• Conducting a elk-human interaction study using collared animals to understand seasonal elk movements and habituated behavior to reduce human- elk conflicts. • Collared 7 cows and 1 bull in fall of 2018 • Goals: • Reduce human-elk conflict and elk-vehicle conflict • Inform a future management plan Where have the elk been? BISON MANAGEMENT

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Traditional territory of: Havasupai, Hopi, and Hualapai Tribes; Kaibab, Las Vegas, and Moapa Bands of Paiute Indians; ; Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah; San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe; The Pueblo of Zuni; and the Yavapai-Apache Nation BACKGROUND • Yes! We have bison on the North Rim….they’ve been in AZ since 1905, in the park since the late 1900’s • Ack! There’s way too many of them! EA in Dec 2017 • Cooperators: AZ Game & Fish Dept.; Bureau of Land Mgmt.; Kaibab National Forest; InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) • Consultation with 11 traditionally affiliated tribes • Goal: to reduce the herd below 200 in 5yrs BISON IMPACTS Water/ Hydrology Vegetation

Cultural Resources Soils

Other Wildlife

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Reduction: 2019 Live Capture

• Captured 51 bison • Collared 14 • Shipped 31 to Quapaw Tribe, OK • Gathered biological data

NPS Photo/ Kristen Luetkemeier Bison Harvested 80 Reduction: Harvest 70

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AZ Game & Fish Department Data Where have the bison been? Kaibab Plateau Collared Bison Locations between 10/15-11/25/2019 Wildlife, Science & Resource Mgmt., Grand Canyon National Park

Lancelot Pt. ±

Powell Plateau

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Pt. Sublime Tiyo Pt. North Rim, Grand Canyon NP Public Roads Grand Canyon National Park House Rock Wildlife Area, KNF Kaibab National Forest (KNF) Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed *Note: first large snowstorm on 11/22/2019 0 2.5 5 10 Miles Where have the bison been? Kaibab Plateau Collared Bison Locations between 11/26/2019-1/13/20209 Wildlife, Science & Resource Mgmt., Grand Canyon National Park

Lancelot Pt. ±

Powell Plateau

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Pt. Sublime Tiyo Pt. North Rim, Grand Canyon NP Public Roads Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park House Rock Wildlife Area, KNF Kaibab National Forest (KNF) Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed *Note: first large snowstorm on 11/22/2019 0 2.5 5 10 Miles Bison Science

• Population Estimation • Population Demographics • Movement/ habitat use • Genetics • Disease monitoring • Impacts on vegetation QUESTIONS????