The incident began on September 18. Results through September 20:
- Scope: High Rock, Fox Hog, Wall Canyon HMAs
- Purpose: Pest control, resource enforcement, rancher protection
- Target: Horses
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly*
- Better way: Poison mares with ovary-killing pesticides*
- Captured: 96, up from 44 on Day 1
- Average daily take: 32.0
- Capture goal: 494
- Removal goal: 404
- Returned: None
- Deaths: 6, up from 2 on Day 1
- Shipped: 33, up from zero on Day 1
The figures above are based on the daily reports, not the totals posted by the BLM.
Trapping occurred at Wall Canyon on Day 2 and outside High Rock on Day 3.
A stallion was euthanized for poor body condition and a pre-existing injury on Day 2.
A female with eye cancer was put down on Day 3, along with an emaciated mare and a colt with a spinal defect.
The death rate is 6.3%.
The capture total includes 37 stallions, 47 mares and 12 foals.
Youngsters represented 12.5% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 44.0% were male and 56.0% were female.
The HMAs and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.
*According to advocates.
Day 3 ended with 57 unaccounted-for animals.
Mares returned to the Complex will be treated with GonaCon Equine, a fertility control pesticide.
Other statistics:
- Forage liberated to date: 1,152 AUMs per year
- Water liberated to date: 960 gallons per day
- Forage assigned to livestock: Undetermined
- Horses displaced from area by permitted grazing: Undetermined
- True AML: Undetermined
- Stocking rate at new AML: Undetermined
- 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.
RELATED: Surprise Roundup in Progress.
Western Horse Watchers Association 