News Release

Assateague Island National Seashore Thanks Assateague Island Alliance

Assateague Island National Seashore  Thanks Assateague Island Alliance

NPS Photo

News Release Date: October 11, 2019

Contact: Liz Davis, 410-629-6087

Assateague Island National Seashore extends 222 “Thank Yous” to Assateague Island Alliance (AIA), the park’s official Friends Group and National Park Service staff for a job well done! Friday, October 11, 2019 the 222nd and final food storage table was deployed on the island ready for use!

Assateague Island Alliance began their fundraising campaign, “A Fed Horse is a Dead Horse” in the fall of 2017. This important project was made possible in part by a grant from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority. AIA’s multiphase effort began with distribution of nylon cooler straps to beach goers, campers and picnickers. Thousands of straps have been provided to Assateague’s visitors to protect food in coolers and storage containers. Over the years, Assateague’s wild horses have learned to associate humans with food and have figured out how and where to get their reward. Open beach totes or grocery bags, unattended food and unstrapped coolers are easily accessed by the island horses.

The long term goal of the “Fed Horse is a Dead Horse” education initiative is a positive behavior change in the wild horses and park visitors. By providing visitors with the information and tools they need to store food properly, horses will begin to disassociate humans with food. Likewise, park visitors will have a safe experience and be able to easily store food properly during a trip to Assateague. This ambitious project hopes to prevent any more needless horse illnesses or deaths as a result of human food and to keep park visitors safe from bites and kicks.