News Release

Two Assateague Wild Horses Cross to the Mainland

News Release Date: July 14, 2022

Contact: Hugh Hawthorne

On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 13th, two wild horses from the Maryland herd N9BM-JO (Adrianna’s Happy Camper) and N2BHS-CKT (Starlight) crossed to the mainland over the Rt. 611 Verrazano bridge leading to Assateague Island. National Park and State Park staff safely corralled the horses about one half mile from the bridge on the mainland. The horses were trailered and returned to the island safely a few hours later. No horse or human injuries occurred.

A witness communicated to park staff that the inciting incident occurred at the base of the east side of the bridge. These two wild horses were in an already excited and agitated state and subsequently became blocked by visitors and vehicles. With their path of retreat towards the island cut off, the horses fled west over the bridge to the mainland. Visitors are reminded that the entire causeway east of the bridge is a “No Stopping, No Parking” zone. Vehicles illegally stopping immediately after the bridge led directly to this incident.

This incident is a very unusual and very uncommon occurrence. For reasons not entirely known, Wild horses have been known to cross the bridge during one prior occasion decades ago. While this incident is concerning, the circumstances that led to these wild horse’s flight across the bridge yesterday is more serious. The crowding of these animals by visitors and vehicles thereby blocking their movements and path of retreat directly led to this incident. Park rules require visitors to stay at least 40 feet from horses. Due to the narrow nature of the causeway this is generally not possible at this location. Stopping and getting out of your car on the causeway to view horses is illegal. Stopping on the causeway leads directly to an unsafe situation for other vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians, for horses and for park personnel.

Assateague’s horses are resilient, tough, and wild. They have learned to survive in a harsh barrier island environment. There are few places in the United States where you can view free roaming wild horses. Due to their complex social structure the Assateague horses display a wide range of unique behaviors. Horses that learn to come up to the road to beg for food are often hit and killed by cars. Visitors are kicked, bitten, and knocked down every year as a direct result of getting too close to the wild horses. Treating wild horses like tame animals takes away the wildness that makes them so special. Each visitor to the island must use common sense when observing any wildlife, including horses. Treat the horses with respect - move back, give them their space, and stay safe.