Close Encounters of the Equus ferus Kind

Despite what you may be thinking, this is not a story about a sequel to the 1970’s science fiction film about alien intelligence.  In fact, the only science fiction element of our trip was during our storytelling time around the campfire.  What we did experience were many encounters with the wildlife of Assateague Island with our UPA sophomores this October.

Our first close encounter with the Equus ferus, the wild horses of Assateague, was our first night. As we walked up the beach from our evening campfire, we were startled when we saw a small herd of wild horses grazing on salt marsh cord grass, their main food source. The wild horses’ eyes reflected the bright lights of our headlamps. Needless to say, our Trekkers hurriedly made it back to their tents that first night.

Fear soon turned to curiosity. The following day, we learned that there were a number of wild horses inhabiting our campsite. With daylight, the Trekkers didn’t seem as frightened as they had the night before.  From a distance, we watched in awe as the horses made their way around. This sparked a lot of conversation amongst the students about visiting natural places like Assateague and how humans and wildlife can co-exist.

Wild horses were not the only thing we were able to watch on the beautiful barrier island. We also had the chance to spot many different shorebird species like the brown pelican, the white-tailed deer and horseshoe crabs along the coastline.Now you may be wondering what the meaning of Equus ferus really is. Equus ferus is the scientific name for a wild horse. The sophomores connected what they had seen at Assateague in the classroom during their Biology class post-trip. While studying the classification of living things, the students used their experience to deepen their understanding of how scientists group living things based on specific traits. It goes to show that observing wildlife in their natural habitats can be both a fascinating and educational experience.

Keep on Trekking,

Victoria Carberry

Environmental Educator, Urban Trekkers