Cows swept out to sea by Hurricane Dorian are found months later - on the Outer Banks

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Three cows vanished during Hurricane Dorian. Months later, they've been found on an island miles from shore.

By Antonia Noori Farzan / The Washington Post Nov 14, 2019 Updated 26 min ago

The only way to get to Cape Lookout National Seashore, a 56-mile chain of undeveloped barrier islands in North Carolina's Outer Banks, is by boat. It's not uncommon for visitors to spot bottlenose dolphins, or even the occasional seal. But last month, park officials stumbled across some unexpected new inhabitants: a trio of bedraggled-looking cows making themselves at home on the sandy shores.

Though only the cows know for sure exactly how they ended up on an island located several miles offshore, B.G. Horvat, the park's spokesman, has a theory. He told the Charlotte Observer they probably swam at least four miles to get there after Hurricane Dorian crashed into North Carolina's coast in September, sweeping them out to sea.

"Who knows exactly, but the cows certainly have a gripping story to share," he said.
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Cows swept out to sea by Hurricane Dorian are found months later – on the Outer Banks
BY MARK PRICE
NOVEMBER 12, 2019 03:39 PM

Cape Lookout National Seashore on the Outer Banks has discovered three cows are roaming the national park, and it is believed they got there by swimming four to five miles across the Core Sound during Hurricane Dorian.

All three were living on Cedar Island when the hurricane generated a “mini tsunami” on Sept. 6, sweeping much of the wildlife off the island, including 28 wild horses that perished, officials say.

Cape Lookout Spokesman B. G. Horvat told McClatchy news group park staff spotted the first cow on the North Core barrier island about a month after the storm. The others revealed themselves in the past two weeks, and the trio are now grazing peacefully together on federal grass, he said.

Horvat believes they survived the amazing trip pushed by storm surge. Any farther, and they’d have drifted into the Atlantic, which happened to some of the wild horses that died.
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This is a group of the “sea cows” that was swept off Cedar Island. The photo was taken by Paula D. O’Malley before the storm hit Sept. 6. PAULA D. O'MALLEY PHOTO

Mark Price has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1991, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, the LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.

[dchill]

1. How now...?

[eppur_se_muova]

2. ... undrowned cow ? nt