News Release

Shackleford Banks Horses 2017 Annual Findings Report Released

Shackleford wild horse pauses while grazing to observe photographer with telephoto lens.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: August 17, 2018

Contact: B.G. Horvat, 252-728-2250, ext. 8906

Harkers Island, NC – The annual findings report on the Shackleford Banks horses has been released by Cape Lookout National Seashore and the Foundation for Shackleford Horses. This report, covering the calendar year 2017, is available on the park’s website at http://go.nps.gov/1n9w7n.

Highlights from the report include:

• The population is managed with a legislated target range of 120 to 130 horses.
• The official population at the end of the report period was 120.
• The number of horses in the herd has generally increased from 2013 to 2017.
• Fourteen foals were born in 2017; one has died.
• Of the 20 horses that are 20 years of age and older, the majority (17) are female.
• Six horses from a wide range of age classes died during the year.
• A stallion died of complications from wounds of the lower leg apparently caused by a man-made object on the island.
• No roundups are planned in the foreseeable future.

As of the release of this report, the herd numbers 119 including 8 foals of 2018.