Currently about 150 horses live on the island, and without any
significant predators, the population is growing. Visitors to the
island delight in the way the horses splash along the beaches and
peacefully graze in scenic spots like the ruins of the Dungeness
mansion. However, many conservationists and local folks concerned about
the island's pristine beauty see the horse as an invasive non-native
species.
The horses eat sea oats and beach grasses that are scarce to
begin with, and are critical to preventing dune erosion. They also tend
to trample delicate foliage in the marshy areas. There are those, too,
for whom the horses' well-being is the main concern, and life on
Cumberland is no picnic, even though the animals have managed to tough
it out for centuries. Competition for food can be intense, and the
herds are often beset with parasites and other diseases. Sand colic, a
painful and sometimes fatal condition caused by the ingestion of sand
which collects in the horse's delicate digestive system, is a common
problem when horses are grazing along the sea shore.
There was some effort to thin the herds in the early 1970s when
they numbered in the hundreds, but since then the National Park Service
has not interfered with the population. In recent years, as more
attention has been given to the effect of the horses on the fragile
island ecosystem, the Park has been exploring a number of options to
find a balance between the island's ecological requirements and the
spirit and history that the horses bring to its sandy shores, windswept
dunes and cool shady lawns.
Article by Sarah Horton
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