The incident began on August 7. Gather stats through August 17:
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly
- Captured: 285, up from 224 on Day 9
- Average daily take: 25.9
- Capture goal: 450
- Removal goal: 410
- Returned: None
- Deaths: 1, no change from Day 9
- Shipped: 237, up from 153 on Day 9
The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.
The death rate is 0.4%.
The capture total includes 86 stallions, 137 mares and 62 foals.
Youngsters represented 21.8% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 38.6% were male and 61.4% 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. Land managers often use 20% per year to predict herd sizes and justify resource enforcement actions.
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 associated with 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 11 ended with 47 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: 3,420 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 2,850 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 9.
Western Horse Watchers Association 