Human activity separates 6-day-old wild horse from mom in NC. Then came good news
A 6-day-old wild horse was separated from her mom — then came good news.
After human activity drew them apart, officials said the two had a heartwarming reunion along the North Carolina coast.
Now, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is urging people to keep their distance from the iconic creatures.
“Survival of foals can be compromised by disruptions to their natural behaviors such as nursing and resting,” Paula Gillikin, the division’s horse herd manager for the Rachel Carson Reserve, wrote in a May 22 news release. “The first few years of a wild horse’s life are critical to their long-term survival.”
The warning comes after the foal faced two impacts from humans within a month. The first was May 10, when the nature preserve said the baby and her mom were with a group of horses.
“The presence of motorboats close to the shore, paddlers in Deep Creek, and people on foot caused stress for the male horse (stallion) and he quickly herded the foal’s mother across Deep Creek and to the west, leaving the foal behind on the east bank,” the Rachel Carson Reserve wrote in a Facebook post.
“Over the next few hours, the stallion continued to herd the remaining group members to the west further away from the foal, who was alone and whinnying for her mother.”
As time passed, it became crucial for the foal to nurse and for the pair to reunite before sunset. Eventually, Gillikin used a boat to take the baby across the creek to her mom.
Days after the reunion, officials said a “visitor approached the foal and its social group to coax the foal closer.”
“Although these visitors likely did not mean harm, their behavior is illegal and can be dangerous for both the horses and visitors,” Gillikin wrote.
How to safely see NC wild horses
The state prohibits people from disturbing wildlife. People who travel to the Rachel Carson Reserve are urged to stay at least 50 feet from the horses, or even farther back if foals are in the area.
Anyone who sees a violation at the site is asked to take a photo and report it to the Beaufort Police Department at 252-726-1911.
The Rachel Carson Reserve is in the Beaufort area, a roughly 155-mile drive southeast from Raleigh. A wild horse population started after a resident brought a group of animals to the region in the 1940s, state officials wrote on their website.
“We realize visitors and boaters are excited about seeing the new baby, but we need your help to ensure it can survive,” the nature preserve wrote.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Human activity separates 6-day-old wild horse from mom in NC. Then came good news."
