Confusion Roundup, Day 5

The incident started on August 24. Results through August 28:

Scope: Confusion HMA
Target: Horses
AML: 115
Pre-gather population: Not given, probably over 400
Type: Planned
Method: Helicopter
Category: Costly and inhumane (according to advocates)
Better way: Eliminate genetic mixing with PZP (according to advocates)
Capture goal: 360
Removal goal: 360
Captured: 193, up from 125 on Day 3
Shipped: 135, up from 47 on Day 3
Released: None
Deaths: None
Average daily take: 38.6
Unaccounted-for animals: 58
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.

The capture total includes 82 stallions, 84 mares and 27 foals.

Youngsters represented 14.0% of the animals gathered, enough to support a herd growth rate of 9% per year.

Of the adults, 49.4% were male and 50.6% 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 contractor is Sampson and the contract amount is $235,536 according to a report at USA Spending.

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

The HMA is subject to permitted grazing. Resources liberated to date:

The project area may be larger than the HMA.

► Get the truth about wild horses and the wild horse advocates at westernhorsewatchers.com.