Buffalo Hills Roundup, Day 7

The incident started on November 15.  Results through November 21:

• Scope: Buffalo Hills HMA
• Target: Wild horses and burros
• AML: 314 horses, no burros
• Pre-gather population: 314 horses, 33 burros
• True AML: 408 horses
• Type: Planned
• Method: Helicopter
• Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
• Better way: Sterilize mares with PZP (according to advocates)
• Capture goal: 235 horses, 33 burros
• Removal goal: 32 horses, 33 burros
• Horses captured: 138, up from 116 on Day 5
• Burros captured: 33, no change from Day 5
• Horses shipped: 15, up from zero on Day 5
• Burros shipped: 33, no change from Day 5
• Horses released: None
• Burros released: None
• Horse deaths: 4, up from 3 on Day 5
• Burro deaths: None
• Average daily take: 19.7 horses
• Unaccounted-for animals: 119 horses, zero burros
• 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
• Snippet from manual: To protect wild horses and burros from unauthorized capture, branding, harassment or death

The figures above are based on the daily reports.

Burros

The capture goal has been reached.

All animals have been shipped.

There were no deaths.

The capture total includes 5 jacks, 21 jennies and 7 foals.

Horses

A death was reported on Day 6.  No details were given.

The death rate is 2.9%.

The capture total includes 53 stallions, 68 mares and 17 foals.  The sidebar says 53, 67 and 18.

Youngsters represented 12.3% of the animals gathered, consistent with a herd growth rate of 7% per year.

Of the adults, 43.8% were male and 56.2% were female, no indication of an abnormal sex ratio.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap site was not disclosed.

The name of the contractor was not provided.

Up to 100 mares will be treated with GonaCon Equine and released back to the range with up to 103 stallions.

The roundup supports three tenets of rangeland management.

Resources liberated to date (based on horses and burros):

• Forage: 1,854 AUMs per year
• Water: 1,545 gallons per day

RELATED: Buffalo Hills Roundup, Day 5.