The incident began on July 17. Gather stats through August 17:
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly
- Captured: 1,287, up from 1,189 on Day 30
- Average daily take: 40.2
- Capture goal: 1,900
- Removal goal: 1,800
- Returned: None
- Deaths: 20, no change from Day 30
- Shipped: 1,211, up from 1,168 on Day 30
The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.
Gather ops resumed on Day 31 after a three-day hiatus.
The death rate is 1.6%.
The capture total includes 451 stallions, 624 mares and 212 foals.
Youngsters represented 16.5% of the animals gathered.
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 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 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 provided.
The location of the trap was not disclosed.
The Complex and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 32 ended with 56 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: 15,444 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 12,870 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 30.
Western Horse Watchers Association 