Wild Horses of North Carolina’s Outer Banks: Mysterious Disappearances and Hidden Habitats
• The Corolla Wild Horse Fund discovered a secretive family of wild horses living on an island in the sound west of Carova Beach, highlighting the existence of hidden horse habitats in the Outer Banks.
• Some wild horses in the Corolla area, known as “banker” horses, are rarely seen due to their ability to stay hidden in remote and inaccessible parts of the 7,500-acre land they roam.
• The reason behind their sudden appearances and disappearances is not fully understood, but it could be related to the presence of disease-carrying horse flies during damp and hot conditions, prompting the horses to seek relief on beaches where coastal winds deter the insects.
• Despite increasing development and human activity in the Outer Banks, the wild horses demonstrate their resilience and adaptability by finding and utilizing these hidden habitats, offering hope for their future preservation.