South Steens Roundup, Day 5

The incident began on September 10.  Gather stats through September 14:

• Target: Horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly
• Captured: 628, up from 525 on Day 3
• Average daily take: 125.6
• Capture goal: 500, increased to 750 on Day 3
• Removal goal: 450, increase not reported
• Returned: None
• Deaths: 16, up from 7 on Day 3
• Shipped: 579, up from 476 on Day 3

The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.

Nine horses were put down on Day 4 due to pre-existing conditions.

The death rate has increased from 1.3% to 2.5%.

The capture total includes 234 stallions, 274 mares and 120 foals.

Youngsters represented 19.1% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 46.1% were male and 53.9% were female.

The herd can’t be growing at a rate of 20% per year with a birth rate of 19% per year.

A better estimate would be 14% 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 HMA and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

Day 5 ended with 33 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): 304
• Forage assigned to horses: 3,648 AUMs per year
• Pre-gather population: 1,370
• Forage liberated to date: 7,536 AUMs per year
• Water liberated to date: 6,280 gallons per day
• Forage assigned to livestock: 10,299 AUMs per year (estimated)
• Horses displaced from HMA by permitted grazing: 858
• True AML: 1,162
• Stocking rate at new AML: 8.6 horses per thousand acres
• Horses displaced from HMA by drilling and mining: Ask the advocates

RELATED: South Steens Roundup, Day 3.