The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 10:
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly
- Captured: 1,043, up from 867 on Day 23
- Average daily take: 41.7
- Capture goal: 1,900
- Removal goal: 1,800
- Returned: None
- Deaths: 20, up from 17 on Day 23
- Shipped: 926, up from 801 on Day 23
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
A mare died of a broken neck on Day 24. A foal died on Day 25 of colic and a mare was put down because of a broken leg.
The death rate is 1.9%.
The capture total includes 371 stallions, 507 mares and 165 foals.
Youngsters represented 15.8% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 42.3% were male and 57.7% were female.
The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 16% per year.
A better estimate would be 11% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.
The observed percentages of stallions and mares cannot be attributed to a simple random process centered at 50% males / 50% females.
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 25 ended with 97 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: 12,516 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 10,430 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 23.
Western Horse Watchers Association 