The incident began on July 9. Results through July 11:
- Scope: Antelope, Antelope Valley HMAs
- Purpose: Pest control, resource enforcement
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly*
- Better way: Poison mares with ovary-killing pesticides*
- Captured: 270, up from 22 on Day 1
- Average daily take: 90.0
- Capture goal: 1,107
- Removal goal: 1,107
- Returned: 1, up from zero on Day 1
- Deaths: 2, up from 1 on Day 1
- Shipped: 200, up from zero on Day 1
The figures above are based on the daily reports, which may differ slightly from the totals posted by the BLM.
A stallion jumped the trap on Day 2, regaining his freedom.
A foal died in holding on Day 2 due to colic.
The death rate is 0.7%.
The capture total includes 93 stallions, 118 mares and 59 foals.
Youngsters represented 21.9% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 44.1% were male and 55.9% were female.
The herd may be growing at a rate of 17% per year, given a birth rate of 22% 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 3 ended with 67 unaccounted-for animals.
Mares treated with fertility control pesticides will be returned to the area at a later date.
Other statistics:
- Forage liberated to date: 3,228 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 2,690 gallons per day
- Forage assigned to livestock: Unknown
- Horses displaced from area by permitted grazing: Unknown
- True AML: Unknown
- Stocking rate at new AML: Unknown
- Horses removed because of drilling and mining: Ask the advocates
Overpopulation means more horses than allowed by plan, not necessarily more horses than the land can support.
*According to advocates.
RELATED: Antelope Roundups in Progress.
Western Horse Watchers Association 