The incident started on August 15. Results through August 17:
- Scope: White Mountain HMA
- Target: Horses
- AML: 300
- Pre-gather population: 791
- True AML: 1,889 (300 + 19,063 ÷ 12)
- Type: Planned
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
- Better way: Shoot the mares with pesticide-laced darts (according to advocates)
- Goals: Gather 586, remove 586
- Captured: 436, up from 144 on Day 1
- Shipped: 304, up from zero on Day 1
- Released: None
- Deaths: 8, up from zero on Day 1
- Average daily take: 145.3
- Unaccounted-for animals: 124
The figures above are based on the daily reports.
Four horses were intentionally killed on Day 2 for leg deformities. Four more were dispatched on Day 3 for pre-existing conditions, bringing the death rate to 1.8%.
The capture total includes 161 stallions, 198 mares and 77 foals.
Youngsters represented 17.7% of the animals gathered, consistent with a herd growth rate of 13% per year.
Of the adults, 44.8% were male and 55.2% were female.
Body condition scores were not given.
The location of the trap site is not known.
The HMA is subject to permitted grazing. Resources liberated to date:
- Forage: 5,232 AUMs per year
- Water: 4,360 gallons per day
There are no plans to treat any of mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.
The roundup supports three tenets of rangeland management.
RELATED: White Mountain Roundup Begins.
Western Horse Watchers Association 