NPS announces results of November 2018 wild horse census on Assateague Island

New foul N2BHS-JQ with her dam, N2BHS-J “Shasta” (NPS/Lisa Giris Photo)

BERLIN, Md. – The National Park Service (NPS) has completed its November 2018 wild horse population census.

We’re told the total population of the Maryland herd is currently at 78 horses, including 21 stallions and 57 mares. The fourth foul of year, filly N2BHS-JQ, was born in mid-November to N2BHS-J “Shasta”.

NPS is also reporting that two aged mares, identified as N6BKO “Samantha” and M17JP “Sierra”, are missing and presumed dead.

The National Park Service completes a full census of the horse population in Maryland six times per year, during the months of February, March, May, July, September, and November. The census is conducted to monitor the overall population of the horse herd, in support of the long term fertility control program that began in 1994.