ASSATEAGUE - The wild horse struck by a vehicle on Assateague Island on August 6 had to be humanely euthanized on Wednesday, serving as a grim reminder to visitors to obey the speed limits and give the island’s famed residents plenty of space.
Around 9 p.m. on Monday, August 6, a two-year-old stallion known as Adriana’s Yankee Prince was struck by a motor vehicle on Assateague along the Route 611 causeway closest to the entry to the barrier island where many of the famed wild horses tend to congregate. Adriana’s Yankee Prince was found to have a swollen left hind leg, but was placing full weight on it and foraging without much difficulty at the time.
In addition, the injured horse had a small laceration on its left rib cage. Despite the injuries, Adriana’s Yankee Prince was monitored closely by the National Park Service and was expected early on to make a recovery. However, the horse was reported down in the saltmarsh and unable to stand early Wednesday morning. As a result, Adriana’s Yankee Prince had to be humanely euthanized on Wednesday.
The loss brings the total population of wild horses on the Maryland side of Assateague Island to 78, including 20 mares and 58 stallions. Two additional horses- Braidwood and Dani- were reported missing or presumed dead after the July census. The ideal population range for the wild horses on Assateague is 80-100,
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7 comments:
The ideal population range for the wild horses on Assateague is 80-100 according to the government. Horses are not native to Assateague so the idea population should be zero.
There should be a severe penalty on these drivers. This is the horses home and we are visitors / guest. If stiff penalties are not set forth for the next season then the Park Rangers are not doing their jobs. These drivers need to be fined severely and banned for the next 2 seasons. This is the same as killing a person with a motor vehicle. This happens every year and treated as o'well just another dead horse. Where is the Humane Society on this?
Sad. But I heard from a reliable source that a new pinto colt was born on Friday... I guess this is nature's way of renewing itself.
I feed the horse's when I visit there, I toss them apples with old razor blades in them.
My brother works here. He said it did seem to be a true accident. The driver did not appear to have been spending & the horse just walked out in front of the car.
There are no "true accidents", you are to be in control of your vehicle at all times.
Hell fire, 10:24.
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