Wild horse killed in North Carolina crash as visitors urged to stay away

COROLLA, N.C. (WAVY) — More and more tourists are coming to the Outer Banks, which brings more people to Corolla, home to about 110 wild horses, but these are not your typical domesticated barn animals, as interacting with them can be dangerous.

“Kind of seeing a shift where there has been a little bit less of people getting right up close, but more concern with the driving situation,” said Corolla Wild Horse Fund President and CEO Chris Winter.

Winter said more drivers are in Corolla as the number of Outer Banks visitors has increased.

On Monday, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund reported that 10-year-old stallion Francisco was hit by a driver at around 5 a.m. According to its statement, their veterinarian said Francisco died from injuries caused by the crash.

Up and down the beach, they have about six full-time and a dozen part-time staff members monitoring the horses. They are also reminding visitors not to come within 50 feet of these animals, as it is against the law in Currituck County.

“It’s really, as much as anything else, a safety issue, for both horse and person,” Winter said. “What is easy to lose sight of is that these are wild animals. They are not the traditional domesticated horse.”

These wild horses are prone to take off at high speeds and even fight one another. Feeding them or leaving food behind can be hazardous.

Winter, however, is happy to report that more and more people are heeding these warnings.

“I think that is a testament to the education out there,” he said. “It is a testament to the fact that we have more and more tourists that are really interested in eco-tourism and leaving the place better than what it was before.”

Their biggest challenge this summer is dealing with drivers. Anyone who hits a horse in Currituck County is required by law to report it, as the Corolla Wild Horse Fund said the driver did in the latest case.

Nexstar’s WAVY reached out to the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office for more information about the Monday morning crash but has yet to hear back.