03/30/2024
And so it begins.
Easter typically marks the beginning of the “season” locally, which means increased visitation to our beloved Shackleford Banks. As a result, we find it necessary to renew our reminders to visitors of the :
-Leave the horses alone. Full stop.
These are wild horses, not pets. No touching, no petting, no chasing, no getting close enough to grab a selfie. Stay at least 50’ away at all times. Young ones may appear curious, but if they approach you, back away to maintain that 50’ distance. Interfering with horses disrupts their essential daily activities, like grazing, drinking, and resting, which diminishes their ability to survive in their harsh island environment.
-This is foaling season. Young foals are fragile. Give foals plenty of space and quiet to nurse and rest and bond with mama to give them the best chance to survive. It’s also breeding season which means stallions are competing for mares. Don’t interfere, or worse, get injured, by getting caught in the middle of a battle.
-Don’t offer the horses anything to eat. They have plenty to eat on the island. Offering them food may lead to choke or colic causing death. Horses may become habituated to human food, which may result in their becoming aggressive and necessitate their removal.
-Don’t leave your food, scraps or trash on the island. Take off everything you brought.
-Keep your dogs on a 6’ leash. It’s the law, and violations may result in a fine. Worse, your dog may be injured or killed by a wild horse.
-If you see a horse or human emergency, call 911. If not an emergency, but a situation involving harassment, interference, attempted feeding, a situation putting horses or people in potential danger, call the non-emergency dispatch, 252-726-1911. Give specific information describing the situation, the individual(s) involved, boat ID or whether a ferry visitor, try to take photos or videos. State your specific location, provide the mile marker or identifying landmarks, better yet, use Google maps to pin your location and provide coordinates. LE will be contacted by dispatch. Please know, violators have been and will be prosecuted.
Thank you for your help in protecting and preserving our Shackleford Banks wild horses.
**Copyrighted photo courtesy of Carolyn Salter Mason. All rights reserved. Neither photo nor contents of this post may be reproduced by the media without prior written approval of the Foundation.
Cape Lookout National Seashore
Island Express Ferry Service
