Murderer’s Creek Roundup, Day 21

The incident started on November 29. Results through December 19:

Scope: Murderer’s Creek HMA, WHT
Target: Wild horses
AML: 140
Pre-gather population: 650
True AML: TBD
Type: Emergency
Method: Bait
Capture goal: 350 – 400
Removal goal: 350 – 400
Captured: 166, up from 144 on Day 17
Shipped: 129, no change from Day 17
Released: None
Deaths: 4, no change from Day 17
Average daily take: 7.9
Unaccounted-for animals: 33
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

No report was given for Day 19.

The death rate is 2.4%.

The capture total includes 61 stallions, 69 mares and 36 foals.

Youngsters represented 21.7% of the animals gathered, consistent with a herd growth rate of 16% per year. The Rule of 72 says the herd size will double in 4.5 years.

Of the adults, 46.9% were male and 53.1% 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.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control pesticides and return them to the range.

No decisions have made regarding the long-term disposition of horses, which means they could be treated or altered in off range holding, including the stallions.

The status of livestock grazing in the burned area is not known.