A number of Horse Sense and Survival interpretive programs are planned this summer at Cape Lookout National Seashore/NPS

Cape Lookout National Seashore's first Horse Sense and Survival trip of 2016 will be offered June 18. It will be one of several ranger-led tours on a day that honors Cape Lookout’s 50th Anniversary and the National Park Service Centennial.

This opportunity will depart from the Harkers Island (North Carolina) Visitor Center on Saturday, June 18, at 1:30 p.m. The tour is led by Cape Lookout National Seashore Wildlife Biologist Sue Stuska, whose intimate knowledge of the horses makes for an exciting and enlightening glimpse into the relationships, behavior, and survival of these wild animals.

Participants will gain an appreciation of all that can be gleaned while watching from a distance. They will understand how to determine an appropriate position and distance for watching that doesn’t affect the horses’ natural behaviors.

“This is a great opportunity for visitors to see and learn about the wild horses,” said Superintendent Patrick Kenney. “The Shackleford horses are an important part of what makes Cape Lookout National Seashore a special place.”

Join Dr. Stuska for a ferry ride from Harkers Island and a moderate-level walking trip to find horses and settle down to watch them. Come prepared for a day in the sun and for walking through dunes and brush in deep sand.

Trips from Harkers Island are likely to include slogging through ankle-deep mud and deeper salt water. Shoes which protect your feet and stay on in the mud are required. Visitors should also plan for the excursion by bringing along water, snacks, bug repellent, sunscreen, sun hat, binoculars, and camera with a telephoto lens in a daypack or shoulder bag.

The National Park Service will offer six more Horse Sense and Survival excursions this year: Saturday, July 9, Saturday, July 30, Wednesday, September 14, Saturday, October 15, Saturday, October 29, and Saturday, November 26. Spaces on the tours are limited and reservations are required. The only charge is the ferry fee: $16 for adults & $9 for children (11 and under).

For more information, including meeting places, times, and ferry costs, see this page. For reservations and to ask individual questions, call the park at 252-728-2250, ext. 3001