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Assateague Island is an undeveloped barrier island, comprising the southern portion of Maryland's Atlantic Coast and part of Virginia's Eastern Shore. It is known for the its herds of Chincoteague Ponies and the Assateague Lighthouse. It is accessible by car via bridges along Maryland Route 611 and from Chincoteague, Virginia; however, there are few roads on the island.
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Assateague Island National Seashore & Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
The island is owned by the federal government and most of the land is either a National Park or a National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge was established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds. Primarily at that time, the Refuge was to protect snow geese. The United Nations has designated Assateague as a World Biosphere Reserve. The U.S. Department of the Interior has designated it a National Natural Landmark.
Human Use of the Island
Off-road vehicles with permits are allowed in certain areas. There are four bay side and two beach side backcountry sites available for camping. There are also several primitive campsites which are run by the National Park Service, as well as the State of Maryland. Kayak touring is a popular way to see the wildlife, especially on the calmer bay side. The best time to backcountry camp is in the spring and the fall. Summer months are known for heavy mosquito populations, particularly on the bay side. Assateague State Park comprises almost 800 acres and lies in Maryland within the National Seashore. The state park is the most developed area on the island with 350 campsites. The Virginia side of the island is within Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the water around the island is within the boundaries of the national seashore. The island has a land area of 63.21 km² (24.4 sq mi) and has a permanent population of 7 persons, according to the 2000 census. All of the population lived in the Virginia portion.[1]
The Chincoteague Ponies
The ponies of Assateague were made famous in the book, Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry. In Maryland, the ponies roam freely and are not considered Chincoteague Ponies. In Virginia, the ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department and are fenced into very large enclosures. Once a year in July, Salt Water Cowboys round them up for auction on Pony Penning Day. The Maryland and Virginia ponies are kept apart by fencing at the border. The island's ponies are often referred to as wild ponies. In fact, the term "wild" is incorrect; horses were extinct in the Americas before being reintroduced by Europeans. The correct term is feral, as the ponies are descendants of domesticated horses that adapted to life in the wild. To keep their numbers under control on the Maryland side, a federal contraceptive program has been in place since 1994.[2] In Virginia, the auction keeps the pony population to the desired level.
Wildlife
Large populations of birds also inhabit the island, including American Oystercatcher, Great Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret. There are over 320 species that are known to inhabit the island during some portion of the year. These include gulls, terns, and other shorebirds along with raptors, waterbirds, and waterfowl.
External links
- Assateague Island National Seashore
- Assateague State Park
- Chincoteague Travel Information
- Assateague camping Information
References
- ^ Block 3000, Block Group 3, Census Tract 9907, Worcester County, Maryland and Block 3000, Block Group 3, Census Tract 9901, Accomack County, Virginia United States Census Bureau
- ^ Assateague Island National Seashore
