Calico Roundup, Day 15

The incident began on October 1. Results through October 15:

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: 448, no change from Day 13
Average daily take: 29.9
Capture goal: 761
Removal goal: 380
Returned: 145, up from 110 on Day 13
Deaths: 15, up from 14 on Day 13
Shipped: 288, up from 259 on Day 13

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

No horses were caught on Days 14 and 15.

The trap and temporary holding pens were moved to another undisclosed location on Day 15.

The contractor dispatched a mare on Day 14 due to low body condition score and loss of teeth.

The death rate is 3.3%.

The capture total includes 168 stallions, 235 mares and 45 foals.

Youngsters represented 10.0% of the animals gathered, consistent with a growth rate of five percent per year.

Of the adults, 41.7% were male and 58.3% were female, suggesting the herd has an abnormal sex ratio.

The HMAs and surrounding lands are subject to permitted grazing.

*According to advocates.

Day 15 ended with no unaccounted-for animals.

Mares returned to the Complex will be treated with GonaCon Equine, a fertility control pesticide. As of today, all returned animals have been stallions.

Other statistics: