On September 11, a wild mare in Corolla was struck by a car on Sandpiper Road. She collapsed, then somehow stood back up and rejoined her herd. This time, she lived. But just weeks earlier, another wild horse was killed in a similar crash. And this was already the fourth collision of 2025.

The Corolla wild horses are not just animals on the roadside. They are a living piece of North Carolina’s Outer Banks history, roaming free for centuries. With only about 100 left, every loss is devastating. A single car strike can erase a bloodline forever.

The problem is clear: drivers continue to speed in off-road areas, and the penalties for hitting a horse are too weak to stop it from happening again. In this latest case, the driver paid a fine and went home. Meanwhile, one horse narrowly escaped death — and others haven’t been so lucky. Families, children, and visitors on these same roads are also at risk.

Currituck County can no longer rely on luck to protect these horses. We need reform now: lower speed limits in horse zones, stronger patrols on the 4x4 beaches, more visible signage, and higher penalties that reflect the true value of these lives. Protecting the horses also protects our community.

We are calling on the Currituck County Commissioners, the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act immediately before another horse is killed. These leaders have the power — and the responsibility — to prevent more collisions.

Every year we lose more of Corolla’s wild horses to reckless driving. Every year, the herd grows more fragile. This time, a mare survived. Next time, we may not be so fortunate.

Add your name to demand urgent protections before we lose another horse forever.