Community News · Coconino County
Grand Canyon Introduces Dog Program to Reduce Wildlife Encounters
The Grand Canyon National Park has launched a new program using Blue, an 18-month-old Catahoula Leonberger dog, to deter elk from entering populated areas. Wildlife biologist Brady Dunne reports that dangerous guest-wildlife interactions have increased exponentially as elk populations reach record highs and become more habituated to humans. The program utilizes aversive conditioning to teach elk to avoid visitor zones without physical contact, aiming to protect both animals and people. Visitors are reminded to maintain a distance of at least 25 yards from large wildlife such as bison and elk.