Signs, signs everywhere a sign … to stay away from the wild horses
OBX Today
May 21, 2021 by Kari Pugh
An anonymous donor had 20 signs made to place along the dunes. [CWHF photo]
As another summer season gets underway, an anonymous donor recently had 20 large signs made warning beachgoers to stay away from the wild horses on the Outer Banks’ northern beaches.
“The “I didn’t see a sign!” excuse has officially become obsolete,” the Corolla Wild Horse Fund said in a Facebook post. “These banners join the signs already in place at the end of the paved road.”
Despite all the signs, a billboard, educational material distributed by rental agencies, warnings plastered on websites and social media and deputies patrolling the beach, every year hundreds of people continue ignoring the warnings to stay away from the Outer Banks endangered herd of Colonial Spanish mustangs.
The law states that everyone must stay at least 50 feet away from the wild horses roaming the beaches of the Currituck Outer Banks. Petting them and feeding them is illegal. Yet all day, every day in the summertime, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund fields calls and messages about people breaking the rules.
Last July, a yearling colt named Danny choked on an apple and died a prolonged and painful death due to people ignoring the rules.
“Danny was killed by humans who had no regard for the safety of the horses. No regard for the health of the horses. No regard for the laws put in place to protect the horses,” the CWHF said at the time.
“It takes a village and our village is dedicated to keeping these precious horses safe!”
