In 1926, there were between five and six thousand wild banker horses that roamed the beaches of Corolla, NC.
Today, there are less than 120 left in the wild.
As human development grows in the Outer Banks, the banker horses’ habitat becomes increasingly encroached upon. The herd is also threatened by interaction with humans, vehicle accidents and disease.
To Meg Puckett, director of herd management at the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, her duties to protect and rehabilitate horses are more than just a job; they’re a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week, year-round commitment she carries out with passion and purpose.
Meg’s love for the animals and dedication to their well-being carries her through every day of work.
The banker horses are more than just an aspect of wildlife of the Outer Banks; they are a formative symbol of its culture and history.
Meg emphasizes that the safety of the bankers rests in the hands of every individual who comes in contact with them.
Every effort, action and decision regarding the horses is essential to keeping them the way they’re meant to be: wild.
