Blue Wing Roundup, Day 7

The incident started on July 8. Results through July 14:

Scope: Blue Wing Complex
Target: Horses and burros
AML: 555 horses and 90 burros
Pre-gather population: 1,912 horses and 476 burros
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
Better way: Snuff out new life with PZP (according to advocates)
Goals
- Horses: Gather 1,373 and remove 1,333
- Burros: Gather 356 and remove 356
Captured
- Horses: 255, up from 94 on Day 5
- Burros: 360, no change from Day 5
Shipped
- Horses: 97, up from zero on Day 5
- Burros: 353, up from 303 on Day 5
Released
- Horses: 1, up from zero on Day 5
- Burros: None
Deaths
- Horses: 5, up from zero on Day 5
- Burros: 8, no change from Day 5
Average daily take
- Horses: 36.4
- Burros: 51.4
Unaccounted-for animals
- Horses: 152
- Burros: -1
Snippet from statute: It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

Horses

A stallion was released (or escaped) on Day 7.

Two stallions were dispatched on Day 6, one due to injuries sustained in capture and the other due to a pre-existing condition. Two stallions and a mare were put down on Day 7 for pre-existing conditions, lifting the death rate to 2%. All would be alive today if there was no roundup.

The capture total includes 103 stallions, 99 mares and 53 foals.

Youngsters represented 20.8% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 51% were male and 49% were female.

Body condition scores were not given.

Burros

More burros were processed than caught, throwing the numbers out of balance.

Captured – Shipped – Released – Dead = 360 – 353 – 0 – 8 = -1

The death rate is 2.2%.

The capture total includes 186 jacks, 152 jennies and 22 foals.

Youngsters represented 6.1% of the animals gathered.

Of the adults, 55% were male and 45% were female.

General