A young mare appears to have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident at Assateague Island National Seashore/NPS file

A hit-and-run collision is believed to have been responsible for the death of a four-year-old mare at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland.

The mare, nicknamed Moonshadow, was found dead Tuesday by a park employee in the Oceanside Campground of Assateague Island National Seashore. It is believed that her injuries were due to a hit-and-run automobile accident the previous week, a park release said.

Both the mare and her foal (N2BHS-CKPT) were likely involved in a low-speed motor vehicle accident last week along Bayberry Drive. N2BHS-CKPT is still lame but has improved noticeably over the past week and continues to move around with her band. The foal will remain in the wild, but park staff will continue to monitor her condition in the weeks ahead.

Visitors are reminded to slow down and always drive with caution along Assateague’s roadways. Be on the lookout for horses and other wildlife when visiting the national seashore. Any road accident within the park, especially those involving wildlife, should be reported to law enforcement rangers at the visitor center.