Triple B Roundup, Day 5

The incident began on July 17.  Gather stats through July 21:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 248, up from 138 on Day 3
• Average daily take: 49.6
• Capture goal: 1,900
• Removal goal: 1,800
• Returned: None, no change from Day 3
• Deaths: 4, up from 3 on Day 3
• Shipped: 159, up from 80 on Day 3

A filly died on Day 4 due to pneumonia.  The death rate is 1.6%.

The total includes 77 stallions, 124 mares and 47 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.0% of the animals captured.  Of the adults, 38.3% were male and 61.7% were female.

The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 19% per year.

If the death rate is 5% per year, 14% would be a better estimate.

The sex ratio is abnormal, a pattern seen in herds subject to the Montana Solution.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

Day 5 ended with 85 unaccounted-for animals.

Mares treated with fertility control may be returned to the area at a later date.

Other statistics:

• Horses allowed by plan (AML): 821
• Forage assigned to horses: 9,852 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 3,475
• Forage liberated to date: 2,976 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 2,480 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 49,188 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 4,099
• True AML: 4,911
• Stocking rate at new AML: 3.0 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Triple B Roundup, Day 3.