Bible Springs Roundup, Day 5

The incident began on August 7.  Gather stats through August 11:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 121, up from 33 on Day 3
• Average daily take: 24.2
• Capture goal: 450
• Removal goal: 410
• Returned: None
• Deaths: 1, up from zero on Day 3
• Shipped: 69, up from 33 on Day 3

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

A mare was put down on Day 5 due to single-eye blindness.  She’d be alive today if there was no roundup.

The death rate is 0.8%.

The capture total includes 36 stallions, 59 mares and 26 foals.

Youngsters represented 21.5% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 37.9% were male and 62.1% were female.

A birth rate of 22% is consistent with a growth rate of 17% per year, assuming a death rate of 5% per year.

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 5 ended with 51 unaccounted-for animals.

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

Other statistics:

• Horses allowed by plan (AML): 170
• Forage assigned to horses: 2,040 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 831
• Forage liberated to date: 1,452 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 1,210 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 9,890 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: 817
• True AML: 987
• Stocking rate at new AML: 4.6 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: Bible Springs Roundup, Day 3.