05/08/2024
As you come around the curves near the end of the paved road in Corolla you will pass multiple signs that say different variations of “stay away from the horses.” Right at the cattle guard there is a very large sign saying citations will be issued for infractions. There are more than 20 very large, permanent signs lining the dunes the entire 11 miles up, along with several scattered behind the dunes too. In addition to that there are yard signs everywhere. Probably at least a hundred of them, if not more.
It is literally impossible to miss one of these signs. Not a single person who drives or walks onto the beach can say they didn’t know the rules. It’s in your face before you even hit the sand. And despite all of that, what you see happening in the photo below (taken today) continues to occur. In fact, there is even a large sign just outside the frame of this photo.
Here are just a few reasons why this kind of behavior is a problem:
1. The dunes are an incredibly fragile, important part of our ecosystem. Walking on them damages years and years of work by locals to build them up and stabilize them. It destroys grass that’s been meticulously planted sprig by sprig. And it’s also private property. If you are walking on a dune that is not directly in front of a house you own or are renting, you are trespassing.
2. You do not know how many horses are on the other side of that dune. You could suddenly find yourself surrounded by ten horses with nowhere to go if they decide you’re a threat, if they spook, or if another stallion comes along and a fight breaks out. The people in this photo have put themselves and their children in great danger.
3. Today was hot and buggy. The horses have been miserable and doing their best to combat the biting flies and the heat. They are already uncomfortable and irritated, and these people are making things even worse for them.
4. Habituation can lead to horses being removed from the wild. Horses that become overly familiar with people can be very dangerous, especially if they’ve been fed. There’s an even greater risk of this happening to foals.
Last summer a group of local Currituck kids attending a day camp came to an open house at the farm. We were standing in the barn with Junior, who was rescued after nearly choking to death on an apple, talking about what the wild horse rules are and why they’re important. Nearly every child could name off a reason why people should keep their distance - feeding can make them sick, it can cause them to become aggressive, you could get kicked or bit, and on and on. After everyone else was finished one little girl raised her hand and said with an air of great finality, “Because the sign said not to.”
Because the sign said not to.
If you witness this kind of behavior, please immediately call the sheriff’s department at 252-453-3633. Even if a citation is not or can not be issued, sometimes being corrected by a deputy is enough to scare people into following the rules. They can also get in touch with us directly and quickly should we need to respond for the horses’ safety and wellbeing.
We are fast approaching Memorial Day weekend and the true start of the busy season. It’s absolutely critical that every person who is visiting the northern beaches this summer does everything in their power to keep the horses safe.
This endangered herd already faces so many natural challenges to their survival; preventable issues caused by human negligence should not play a factor in their lives. We want the horses to remain accessible so that people can come see them in their natural habitat, and in order for that to happen everyone needs to be responsible and respectful. Your actions have far-reaching consequences.
For more resources, please see the Community Wild Horse Toolkit on our website:
https://www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolki
