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I came across a book review and found this to be very interesting. While the numbers are much smaller than what we have on our western lands and much easier to control, this appears to be true wild horse management - letting the herd be a herd while keeping the population in check. I had never heard this particular herd mentioned but thought this may be of interest to many of you.
I located this website that appears to be the foundation for this herd. I can't tell if the foundation is solely responsible for this herd or if the state provides any funding. Perhaps this might be a model to think about with some of our wild herds in the west. We already have a good start with The Cloud Foundation and Herd Watch. Just think what they could do with the money spent on round-ups alone... If only the BLM would work with our experts.
http://www.shacklefordhorses.org/
The below is from the book review and some comments I found.
The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks is a fascinating examination of the wild horse herd that exists on an island at the remote southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Today, it is both one of the wildest and most controlled animal populations on earth. This wild animals are protected from direct human intrusion, and their natural herd behavior studied by scientists; at the same time, circumscribed "wilderness management" involving genetic testing and immunocontraception is necessary to prevent the herd from overgrazing its own food supply.
An array of scientists sees to it that the horses are born, battle for social rank, forage for food, suffer the elements, and die without human interference. At the same time, to protect the island from overgrazing, these scientists practice the 21st-century paradox of "wilderness management"-a careful plan of genetic testing and immunocontraception to maintain a target population of 120 to 130 healthy horses.
Mystery and controversy have always surrounded the Shackleford horses. Some experts offer evidence that they are the descendants of horses cast off foundering Spanish galleons. Others cite proof that they are of much more recent origin. Many people see them as symbols of bedrock American values like freedom and self-sufficiency. But over the years, some have argued that they pose a threat to the island's ecology and should be banned as feral goats, sheep, and cattle were long ago. There is even disagreement over what they are. Scientists say they're horses, but many people will forever insist they're ponies.
The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks is a comprehensive overview of the famous herd-its possible origins and development, its hardiness in the face of hurricanes, its complex relationship with humans, its hard-won protection within Cape Lookout National Seashore. The book's plentiful illustrations-both archival and contemporary, show why the Shackleford horses are so beloved among visitors to the Outer Banks.
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