You are here

Where Can You See Wildlife Right Now: Banker Horses At Cape Lookout National Seashore

Share

Visit Shackleford Banks to see wild horses at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Kurt Repanshek photo.

Got a thing for horses? Visit Shackleford Banks when you travel to Cape Lookout National Seashore to see horses descended from Spanish stallions brought to the New World centuries ago.

According to the national seashore, "DNA analysis shows the Shacklefords to be Colonial Spanish horses, but that doesn't necessarily mean they were brought to this area directly from Spain. Spanish horses were traded to other countries in Europe and to other parts of North America during the Spanish Colonial Period."

"They group with (are closely related to) the domestic-bred Venezuelan Criollo, Puerto Rican Paso Fino, and Marsh Tacky horses into a cluster that contains primarily South American breeds of Iberian origin," the seashore adds. "These horses can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula--an area which includes Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Gibraltar, and part of France."

How did the horses get out on Shackleford Banks?

"Perhaps the most interesting (theory) is that these horses are descendants of animals which swam ashore from ships that ran aground in the shallow waters surrounding the park (or that were thrown overboard to lighten the ship and prevent a wreck)," the seashore notes.

"Overland traders may have played a part in distributing horses through this area. More recently, mainland and island residents let their horses (and cattle, sheep & goats) roam free on the islands."

While you sometimes will see some of the horses while you ride the passenger ferry to visit the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, being dropped off at Shackleford for a few hours or an entire day to hike and look for the horses is a great way to enjoy the national seashore.

Spotting the horses isn't terribly hard, as they are spread out across the landscape. There also are some great birding opportunities here, and for those who want a day at the beach without crowds, the swimming, fishing, and shell-collecting on Shackleford is great.

You also can enjoy the island and its horses by joining one of the seashore's rangers for a day trip to Shackleford. These programs, dubbed "Horse Sense and Survival Tours," are offered on various dates in the summer and early fall months. They run roughly four hours.

Check the seashore's website to see when these tours are offered.

Comments

invasive species according to the groups killing animals on Cape Hatteras... Any species not natural to the area... Sounds like the NPS can make anyhting spin their way.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.