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Feral horses on Cumberland Island, Georgia, graze on the lawns of the former great estates and on marsh grasses, but they also eat sea oats and beach grasses that are critical in preventing dune erosion. Feral horses are tough, but it is a very hard life for them. Competition for food can be intense, and many parasites prey on the herds. Stallions fight, and you can easily see evidence of injuries from bites and hooves. In the early 1970's the National Park Service made attempts to reduce the rapidly increasing population, but since then the herds have been left alone. Concern about the negative effects of the horses on the fragile island ecosystem has prompted efforts to find a way to balance ecological requirements and the spirit and history of the island and its equine residents.
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