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Arizona Attorney General supports bison management in Grand Canyon National Park  

Bison on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Photo/ Roy Rauch/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Bison on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Photo/ Roy Rauch/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

PHOENIX - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich issued a recent letter supporting federal legislation allowing skilled sportsmen to aid in the management of bison herds at Grand Canyon National Park.

"This legislation is a sensible solution to address the impact of bison on the Grand Canyon's natural and cultural resources," Brnovich wrote in the letter. "Hunters were the first conservationists and hunting plays a valuable role in sustaining healthy wildlife populations."

The letter issued by Brnovich to U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jake Flake who sponsored S.782: Grand Canyon Bison Management Act.

Additionally, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar sponsored companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Grand Canyon Bison Management Act seeks to enlist hunters to help control an expanding bison population of 600. The animals migrated into the park from their range on the Kaibab National Forest and have trampled natural and cultural resources.

In the letter, Brnovich supports the sensible solution of allowing the state of Arizona to exercise its responsibility to actively manage and conserve wildlife populations inside the park just as it does across other Arizona landscapes.

"Hunting can play a valuable role in sustaining a healthy wildlife population," Brnovich said. "This legislation is a sensible solution to address the negative impact of this particular herd of bison on the Grand Canyon's precious natural and cultural resources. Harvesting bison in the national park will ultimately help achieve the desired objective of moving this herd safely back to the Kaibab National Forest."

The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, Kyrsten Sinema, Matt Salmon, David Schweikert and Trent Franks.


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