The incident started on September 4. Results through September 10:
- Scope: Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA
- Target: Horses
- AML: 302
- Pre-gather population: 1,200
- Type: Emergency
- Contractor: Cattoor
- Contract amount: $269,383
- Unit cost: $540
- Method: Helicopter
- Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
- Better way: Sterilize the mares with PZP (according to advocates)
- Capture goal: 499
- Removal goal: 499
- Captured: 183, no change from Day 5
- Shipped: 166, no change from Day 5
- Released: None
- Deaths: 2, no change from Day 5
- Average daily take: 26.1
- Unaccounted-for animals: 15
- 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.
No animals were taken on Days 6 and 7 due to helicopter maintenance.
The death rate is 1.1%.
The capture total includes 64 stallions, 79 mares and 40 foals.
Youngsters represented 21.9% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 44.8% were male and 55.2% were female.
Body condition scores were not given.
The location of the trap site was not disclosed.
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. Removal of wild horses may not liberate any food or water for livestock due to wildfire and drought.
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Western Horse Watchers Association 