North Carolina's wild horses know how to survive hurricane

COROLLA BEACH, N.C. — For many vacationers on North Carolina's Outer Banks, a trip there is not complete without at least catching a glimpse of the majestic wild horses that roam the islands. As Hurricane Florence approaches, many are expressing concern about how the horses will fare during the powerful Category 4 storm.

The Facebook page of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund was peppered with comments from worried tourists and residents.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Tracking the Tropics]

[FLORENCE UPDATES: 'Monster' Hurricane Florence nears Carolina coast]

"Thinking of all of the horses as Florence approaches. ... Praying for their safety," wrote one concerned woman.

"Prayers for protection from the storm for these beautiful animals & the young foals," wrote another.

Wildlife experts say they needn't worry. Wild horses are believed to have first settled on the Outer Banks hundreds of years ago and have survived many powerful storms.

Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore, where 118 wild horses live on Shackleford Banks, said the horses are highly sensitive to weather changes and instinctively know what to do in a storm. She said they go to higher ground during flooding, including the dunes, and head for shrub thickets and a maritime forest during high winds.

Hurricane content:

• Florence could hit with punch not seen in more than 60 years
• EXPLAINER: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes
• North Carolina's wild horses know how to survive hurricane
• Florence could flood NC hog manure pits, coal ash dumps
• Camp Lejeune, other East Coast military bases brace for Florence
• 'Not a pretty sight': Hurricane Florence has experts worried
• Florence poses a new threat for rural, struggling towns
• East Coast hurricane scenario showed potential for disaster
• As Florence looms, Trump gives himself 'A-pluses' on hurricane response
• Charlotte Motor Speedway to welcome evacuees from Florence
• Hurricane evacuations to reverse traffic on some highways
• Hurricane Florence: What is a Category 4 hurricane and what can it do?
• South Carolina officials urge dam checks before hurricane
• 'Gray Man' ghost appears before major hurricanes, SC legend says
• Comparing Hurricane Florence with past storms in the Carolinas
• Hurricane Florence: These airlines will waive fees for flights impacted by storm
• Hurricane season is officially here: How much damage will 2018 bring?
• Will a hurricane be named after you this season? 2018 storm names are here
• What is the Saffir-Simpson scale; how does it work; is there a Category 6?
• How dangerous is a hurricane? Understanding hurricane categories
• Hurricane, tropical storm and tropical depression: What's the difference?
• What is a storm surge and why is it dangerous?
• 9 weather terms you should know when preparing for a hurricane
• Everything you need to know to prepare for hurricane season
• How to use the internet during the storm when your internet is down
• Taking photos of your home before a storm can speed up insurance process

"Naturally, they are meant to be outside and they have high ground and they have thick places to hide," Stuska said.

"Don't worry about them. They've survived for hundreds of years, and we expect that they'll be just fine."

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, a group devoted to protecting and managing a herd of wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs that roams on the northernmost Currituck Outer Banks, posted a message on its Facebook page Monday to reassure horse lovers that they expect the animals will be just fine.

Severe Weather Center 9 says the storm may make landfall between Morehead City and Wilmington late Thursday night into Friday morning. 

Stay updated on the storm and its latest track by downloading our weather app.

"The horses have lived on this barrier island for 500 years, and they are well equipped to deal with rough weather," the group wrote.

"They know where to go to stay high and dry and are probably in better shape right now than most of us humans who are scrambling with final preparations. They are much better off without any help from us; anything we might do in the hopes of 'protecting' them would probably end up being more dangerous and stressful for them than the storm."

Horse deaths during storms are not unheard of, however.

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

"They do have an instinct for protection, of trying to head for higher ground, getting out of the wind and then sticking together in a group," he said.

Associated Press