Calico Roundup, Day 5

The incident began on October 1. Results through October 5:

Scope: Black Rock Range, Calico Mountains, Granite Range, Warm Springs 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: 212, up from 144 on Day 3
Average daily take: 42.4
Capture goal: 761
Removal goal: 380
Returned: 31, no change from Day 3
Deaths: 6, up from 1 on Day 3
Shipped: 115, up from 63 on Day 3

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

The location of the trap site on Days 4 and 5 was not given.

Body condition scores ranged from 3 to 4 on both days.

Three horses were put down on Day 4 because of injuries and infections, followed by two more on Day 5.

The death rate is 2.8%.

The capture total includes 81 stallions, 115 mares and 16 foals.

Youngsters represented 7.5% of the animals gathered, suggesting that the herd is growing at a rate of two to three percent per year.

Of the adults, 41.3% were male and 58.7% were female.

Approximately 85% of the captured mares have been shipped, with only 4% of the captured stallions, consistent with a plan to skew the sex ratio in favor of males.

The HMAs and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

*According to advocates.