ASSATEAGUE — For the second time in a little over a month, one of the famed wild horses on Assateague was struck and killed by a vehicle in the developed area around the Route 611 causeway on Tuesday evening.
Around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the 18-year-old solid bay stallion N9BFNY, or Sir Gruff, was struck and killed by a vehicle along the Route 611 causeway near the entrance to the barrier island. The normal range for Sir Gruff and his band, including Ninka and Assateague Phoenix, is in the vicinity of Tingles Island and the Pine Tree backcountry, but the band had spent much of the summer in the developed area.
According to Assateague Island National Seashore officials, it is not yet known if speed was a factor in the collision and a full investigation of the accident is currently underway. Sir Guff was the second Assateague wild horse struck and ultimately killed by a vehicle in a little over a month.
In mid-August, Adrianna’s Yankee Pride was hit by a vehicle along the Route 611 causeway and suffered injuries including a swollen left leg. However, the horse was putting weight on the injured leg and was foraging on its own, so it was believed at the time the animal would recover. However, about a week later, Adrianna’s Yankee Pride was discovered down in the marsh and had to be humanely euthanized.
Sir Gruff is the 19th horse to be struck and killed along with Route 611 causeway since 1982 and six others have been injured. In the wake of Adrianna’s Yankee Pride in August, the National Park Service worked in conjunction with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) to reduce the speed limits along the entry ways to the barrier island and on the island itself,
For example, the speed limit on the Verrazano Bridge was reduced to 30 miles per hour, while the speed limit on Route 611 to Bayberry Drive was reduced to 25 miles per hour. It’s important to note speed was not a determining factor in the collision that ultimately claimed Adrianna’s Yankee Prince and no charges were filed. Rather, it was deemed an unfortunate accident. However, with 13 deaths in 25 years attributed to vehicle collisions along the Route 611 causeway, speed limit reductions in that area can only improve the safety for the horses and the visitors to the island.The Highway 611 causeway on Assateague Island can often be congested with slow-moving vehicles, pedestrians, and free-ranging horses. The reduced speed limits and other traffic control measures should improve the safety of park visitors and wildlife on this section of roadway. Over the past 25 years, motor vehicle collisions have killed thirteen horses on the 611 causeway.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Assateague Island National Seashore officials said they remained committed to exploring any all means to make the developed areas safer for the island’s famed residents.
“The National Park Service is committed to protecting the Assateague horses now and forever,” the statement reads. “They are a treasured part of the Assateague experience. We join the public in concern for the loss of horses on the causeway and hope to continue to work with the state of Maryland Department of Transportation to make Route 611 safer for visitors and wild horses.”
Many of the horses inhabit wild and seldom visited areas of the island, but more than a few can routinely be seen in and around the visitor areas, interacting with vehicles, beach goers and campers. Drivers are reminded to be alert at all times on the barrier island. When approaching horses in or on the side of the road, it may be necessary to drive even slower than the posted speed limit as common sense would dictate. Unfortunately, common sense, like horse sense, is often in short supply with vacationers interacting with wild animals on the barrier island.