Rep. Gosar Slams Park Service's New Plan for Bison Management within Grand Canyon: "Too Little Too Late"

Statement

Today, Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the National Park Service announced a 30-day public comment period seeking input on the agency's plans announced today to shift from developing a long-term management plan for managing the invasive "beefalo" within Grand Canyon National Park (the park) to an effort that instead focuses on initial herd reduction:

"I am outraged that the Park Service would offer a last minute, short-sighted, vague and costly proposal for managing invasive "beefalo' within Grand Canyon National Park the day before my Grand Canyon Bison Management Act is scheduled to pass the full House of Representatives. While it is nice to see the Park Service finally recognize the importance of reducing the herd size in a timelier manner, this eleventh-hour announcement is a shameful attempt to derail commonsense legislation moving through Congress that will allow volunteer Arizona hunters to reduce this invasive population at no expense to the taxpayer.

"The Park Service's failure to act sooner on this issue forced Senator McCain, Senator Flake and I to introduce bipartisan legislation that allows state-licensed volunteer hunters to cull this unmanageable herd and remove the bison meat from the park. Instead of enlisting expensive sharp shooters who leave carcasses rotting in the park (as outlined in the new Park Service proposal), our bill recruits volunteer hunters to safely thin the bison herd in a coordinated effort that will also generate funding for habitat conservation at no cost to taxpayers.

"Congress should not be distracted by the Park Service's Hail Mary and should ensure the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act is signed into law. We can't afford to allow more devastation to be caused to the park while the Park Service twiddles their thumbs trying to come up with an expensive plan. We have a plan and it puts Arizona hunters to work doing what they love, accomplishing this important task for free."

Arizona Game and Fish Chairman Kurt Davis stated, "Although the Commission finds the timing of the National Park Service change in position peculiar, any progress to reduce damage being caused by bison in the Grand Canyon is welcomed. However, citizen hunters should still be considered as the most significant part of an overall comprehensive solution. The National Park Service is already burdened with more than $11.9 billion in deferred maintenance. Allowing volunteer sportsmen and women to assist in managing the bison population would take the financial burden off the taxpayer and is the most-effective option. Because of this, we still believe legislation will still be needed to provide a lasting solution to protect the Grand Canyon National Park's assets and critical habitat."

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