daily-independent logo
Log in

North Carolina's wild horses know how to survive hurricane

FILE - In this July 25, 2011, file photo, a group of wild horses cools off in the ocean breeze on the beach in Corolla, N.C. As North Carolina braces for Hurricane Florence, some tourists and residents are worried about the famous wild horses that roam the Outer Banks. But Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore, said the horses instinctively know what to do in a storm. (AP Photo/Virginian-Pilot, Steve Earley, File)
Tropical Weather Wild Horses
FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2010, file photo, wild horses roam in Corolla, N.C. As North Carolina braces for Hurricane Florence, some tourists and residents are worried about the famous wild horses that roam the Outer Banks. But Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore, said the horses instinctively know what to do in a storm. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Tropical Weather Wild Horses
You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers starting at $5 for your first month and support local, unbiased journalism.

Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

North Carolina's wild horses know how to survive hurricane

Posted
FILE - In this July 25, 2011, file photo, a group of wild horses cools off in the ocean breeze on the beach in Corolla, N.C. As North Carolina braces for Hurricane Florence, some tourists and residents are worried about the famous wild horses that roam the Outer Banks. But Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore, said the horses instinctively know what to do in a storm. (AP Photo/Virginian-Pilot, Steve Earley, File)
Tropical Weather Wild Horses
FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2010, file photo, wild horses roam in Corolla, N.C. As North Carolina braces for Hurricane Florence, some tourists and residents are worried about the famous wild horses that roam the Outer Banks. But Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore, said the horses instinctively know what to do in a storm. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Tropical Weather Wild Horses
Map locates the Outer Banks, N.C.; 1c x 2 inches; 46.5 mm x 50 mm;
OUTER BANKS

North Carolina's wild horses know how to survive hurricane

by By DENISE LAVOIE , Associated Press - 12 September 2018 00:13-04:00
North Carolina's famous wild horses may live along some of the state's most vulnerable coastline, but wildlife experts say the Outer Banks horses will instinctively know what to do when Hurricane Florence hits.

Sue Stuska is a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore. She says the horses will find higher ground on sand dunes during flooding and head for shrub thickets and the forest during high winds.

Horse deaths during storms are not unheard of, however.

John Taggart is an associate professor emeritus who teaches environmental science at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He says five wild horses drowned after they were swept off the Rachel Carson Reserve near Beaufort, North Carolina, during Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

But Taggart says that kind of loss is unusual during storms.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Share with others

Have an opinion on this story? Click here to send a letter to our editors.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

Other items that may interest you

3 billionaires give Republican Tom Tiffany a big cash boost in the Wisconsin governor's race

Trump says latest Iran peace offer not enough, may resume bombing, and other Mideast developments

Rapper Rick Ross charged with battery after domestic violence accusation

Photos show celebrations and protests marking China's National Day

Most popular stories in Daily Independent

PIC Celebrates 25 Years of Walking With Clients

The Old Vine Registry, the world’s largest and most authoritative public database of old vineyards, launches the OVR Seal

A's prospect Ryan Lasko works to recover after neck injury and being paralyzed in outfield collision

A high-stakes fight for state political power heats up, with Trump's agenda on the line