The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 2:
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly
- Captured: 647, up from 552 on Day 15
- Average daily take: 38.1
- Capture goal: 1,900
- Removal goal: 1,800
- Returned: None, no change from Day 15
- Deaths: 14, up from 13 on Day 15
- Shipped: 554, up from 473 on Day 15
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
A filly was euthanized on Day 17 due to weak tendons.
The death rate is 2.2%.
The capture total includes 232 stallions, 304 mares and 111 foals.
Youngsters represented 17.2% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 43.3% were male and 56.7% were female.
The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 17% per year.
A better estimate would be 12% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.
The observed percentages of stallions and mares could not be produced by a simple random process centered at 50% males / 50% females (p-bar = .5, n = 536 adults).
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 was not disclosed.
The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 17 ended with 79 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: 7,764 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 6,470 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 15.
Western Horse Watchers Association 