The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through July 25:
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly
- Captured: 346, up from 285 Day 7
- Average daily take: 38.4
- Capture goal: 1,900
- Removal goal: 1,800
- Returned: None, no change from Day 7
- Deaths: 8, up from 6 on Day 7
- Shipped: 319, up from 246 on Day 7
A stallion died of a broken neck on Day 9 and a mare was euthanized, increasing the death rate to 2.3%.
The total includes 118 stallions, 163 mares and 65 foals.
Youngsters represented 18.8% of the animals captured. Of the adults, 42.0% were male and 58.0% were female.
The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 19% per year.
A better estimate would be 14% per year assuming a 5% death rate.
Abnormal sex ratios are often found in herds subject to the Montana Solution but not double-digit birth rates.
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 9 ended with 19 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: 4,152 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 3,460 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 7.
Western Horse Watchers Association 