Swasey Roundup, Day 5

The incident started on November 3. Results through November 7:

FY: 2027
Scope: Swasey HMA
Target: Horses
AML: 100
Pre-gather population: 247
Type: Planned
Contractor: Cattoor
Contract amount: $86,849 (estimated)
Unit cost: $620
Method: Helicopter
Category: Cruel and costly (according to advocates)
Better way: Sterilize mares with PZP, pray for older horses to die (per advocates)
Capture goal: 140
Removal goal: 140
Captured: 109, up from 64 on Day 3
Shipped: 107, up from 64 on Day 3
Released: None
Deaths: 2, up from zero on Day 3
Average daily take: 21.8
Unaccounted-for animals: None
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.

A mare was euthanized for an abscess on Day 4.

A colt crashed into a pipe panel on Day 5, breaking his neck.

The death rate is 1.8%.

The capture total includes 42 stallions, 51 mares and 16 foals.

Youngsters represented 14.7% of the animals gathered, too low to sustain a herd growth rate of 15-20% per year.

Of the adults, 45.2% were male and 54.8% were female.

Body condition scores were not given.

The location of the trap was not disclosed.

There are no plans to treat any of the mares with fertility control and return them to the range, which would prolong the genetic bottleneck created by the roundup.

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

Forage: 1,308 AUMs per year
Water: 1,090 gallons per day

Public lands within two miles of active trapping locations and temporary holding facilities will be closed to the public for the duration of the roundup.

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