The incident started on September 4. Results through October 2:
- 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: 277, up from 251 on Day 11
- Shipped: 249, up from 240 on Day 11
- Released: None
- Deaths: 2, no change from Day 11
- Average daily take: 9.6
- Unaccounted-for animals: 26
- 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.
Operations were delayed for two weeks due to problems with the helicopter.
The death rate is 0.7%.
The capture total includes 103 stallions, 116 mares and 58 foals.
Youngsters represented 20.9% of the animals gathered.
Of the adults, 47.0% were male and 53.0% 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.
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