Banker horse wearing mask is scaring other horses, NC Outer Banks nonprofit says
A wild horse born on North Carolina’s Outer Banks has taken to wearing a mask, and the ghostly sight is spooking some of the other horses, according to the nonprofit Corolla Wild Horse Fund.
Read more Former FBI director James Comey asks judge to delay NC Trump threat trial
The mare, named Valentine, had to be fitted with the mask to protect her from the blood-sucking midges (flies) that have reached plague status along the coast this season.
The fly population explosion is due to warm, humid weather and westerly winds that have pushed the pests out of the marshes, experts say.
“Valentine has a swollen ear that was caused by shaking and rubbing her head because the flies have been so terrible, so she’s been wearing a fly mask with ear covers,” Corolla herd manager Meg Puckett said in a Facebook post.
“She looks kind of like an alien, and we were a little worried the other horses would be scared of her.”
Sure enough, a horse named Kitty Hawk got weirded out, then she convinced some of her friends they, too, should be concerned, Puckett said. The mares are now shunning poor Valentine, which Puckett hopes is only temporary.
“It’s just rare to see any of these fierce mares actually spooky about something!” Puckett said.
Read more President Trump is coming to Gastonia. How to see him (+ plan for road closures)
Valentine and Kitty Hawk are part of small group of wild horses that were removed from the wild and taken to a farm for protection. Some had health issues, and others had become acclimated to dangerous foods provided illegally by tourists. Their chances of survival in the wild were slim.
Moving wild horses to the farm prevents them from accessing natural fly remedies on the Outer Banks, which include standing in strong breezes on the beach, rolling in the sand and even wading into the ocean.
“Along the North Carolina coast and around inland breeding sites, flies are usually present throughout most of the warm weather seasons,” N.C. State Extension says.
“Their biting activity is extremely annoying, and it can affect outdoor work ad activities and impact the economy of some coastal areas by discouraging tourism.”
To sponsor a horse at the Corolla Wild Horse Fund farm, visit: https://www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/
Read more Best grocery store? This NC-based chain ranks No. 1 in US across 5 categories
Corolla is about a 225-mile drive northeast from downtown Raleigh.
