Outer Banks Wednesday - Sunshine and Wild Horses

          After days of rain and fog, the day began with a beautiful sunrise and the promise of a sunny day.  Though we've actually enjoyed the view of clouds and rough surf outside our windows, we welcomed a different experience of this barrier island.

         

We headed out to the office of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) for a trip north to see the wild horses in their habitat.  There was a bit of excitement earlier today when one of the mares jumped the fence at the southern end of their enclosed area and had to be herded back to safer ground.  These horses were fenced north of Corolla years ago to protect them.  Too many were lost to drivers who refused to adhere to speed limits, crashing into and killing the horses who had become too complacent about the humans that came in increasing numbers each season.

          Our guide was April, now the assistant herd manager for this non-profit group that monitors and manages the herd of just over 100 Colonial mustangs that live here.  She is very knowledgeable and shared lots of information with us as we drove the sandy roads that lie in "4-wheel drive country." The 100 or so year-round residents and the vacation renters who come to this area have no paved-road access.  They come and go via vehicles on the beach or boats on Currituck Sound.

          We saw quite a few horses, peacefully grazing among the houses that are scattered along the roads there.  These roads are one-lane routes over and around the dunes and through the maritime forest.  Some skill is required, as well as the right vehicle and tires that won't get stuck in the deep sand.

          This time of year, April told us, the animals find relatively little forage, thus they have learned to eat well in the warmer months to store up fat for the winter.  They are also smart enough not to pull the grass out, but rather to chew it off to allow new growth to occur when they move on.  It's amazing how they survive and the CWHF works

hard to give them every chance, treating injured and sick animals as needed in a rehab facility on the mainland.  When horses are found to be unfit to return to the wild, homes are found for them where they can enjoy a less challenging life.

          As with many wildlife issues, there are disagreements about the best ways to manage and maintain the herd.  The staff of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, who depend primarily on donations, attempt to negotiate through these differences.  For those who have come to appreciate the horses and want them to remain as free and wild as possible, this is a labor of love. 

          After a lunch break at one of the few restaurants open this time of year, we drove around the area with our friends, Zee and Bob, catching glimpses of birds along our way.  Mike stopped here and there to take photographs.

          We ended our day at the Currituck Heritage Park where we watched a spectacular sunset that seemed to set the sky on fire as it lowered over the mainland across Currituck Sound.  It was another good day, one that began and ended with the beauty of the sun to warm us.

 

 

 

 All photos by Mike Lumpkin