By Katie Harden
CRESWELL, N.C. (WNCT) – A community near Creswell says there is a big infestation in their area and there is nothing they can do to protect their property from being destroyed.
After a 500 pound horse was killed and another severely injured, community members in one Washington County neighborhood are searching for answers and solutions about what to do to make sure their animals stay safe.
“I was just screaming,” recalled Lisa Tarkington.
Tuesday morning, Tarkington says she woke up to a nightmare. Her pet horses had been attacked. Her older pony, Coco, was dead.
“I saw that her whole throat had been ripped out,” explained Tarkington. “She had a big hole underneath her arm. She had just been mutilated. It was the most awful thing I have ever seen in my life. It was just gross.”
Tarkington says it was a scene out of a horror movie. After finding her other horse, Cheyenne, severe wounded in her stall, Tarkington called a wildlife officer to find out what happened.
“He said that it was coyotes that had gotten her,” Tarkington said. “But we have found other tracks that says there were two different types of animals.”
Tarkington believes the horses were attacked by red wolves. Her neighbors and family agree after multiple sightings of the federally protected wolves recently in the area. It’s illegal to kill one of the protected animals, leaving the community there confused.
“Being that I can’t do anything about it, what am I supposed to do,” asked Marcus Brown, Tarkington’s son. “Keep losing animals that I’m paying for?”
The Wildlife Commission issued Tarkington’s son, Marcus, a permit to capture the perpetrator, but he says that’s not enough.
“The only other option, if they can’t do anything about it, is to open a season where people can take care of it,” said Brown.
For now, Tarkington is keeping a close eye on her pets and encouraging her neighbors to do the same.
They plan to relocate Cheyenne to a safer location until they figure exactly what they’re able to do about the red wolves on their property.
9 On Your Side reached out to the Wildlife Resource Officer in Washington County for comment, but have not heard back. We’ll update you on any developments both on-air and online as details become available.