The incident began on September 10. Gather stats through September 14:
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly
- Captured: 258, up from 235 on Day 3
- Average daily take: 51.6
- Capture goal: 1,076
- Removal goal: 1,036
- Returned: None
- Deaths: 7, up from 5 on Day 3
- Shipped: 251, up from 133 on Day 3
The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.
No animals were taken on Day 5 and no explanantion was given. Operations may have moved to another HMA.
The number of horses shipped on Day 3 was changed from 90 to 81.
Two stallions were euthanized on Day 4 for non-life-threatening conditions.
The death rate is 2.7%.
The capture total includes 99 stallions, 117 mares and 42 foals.
Youngsters represented 16.3% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 45.8% were male and 54.2% 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.
Body condition scores were not provided.
The location of the trap site was not disclosed.
The HMAs and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
Day 5 ended with no 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): 952
- Forage assigned to horses: 11,424 AUMs per year
- Pre-gather population: 1,593
- Forage liberated to date: 3,096 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 2,580 gallons per day
- Forage assigned to livestock: Unknown
- Horses displaced from Complex by permitted grazing: Unknown
- True AML: Unknown
- Stocking rate at new AML: Unknown
- Horses displaced from Complex by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates
RELATED: Calico Roundup, Day 3.
Western Horse Watchers Association 