Police Issue Warning Of Horses On The Loose

Weather conditions in Akureyri have led to horses being able to wander up on the highway, creating a recipe for disaster.

Vísir reports that the police in Akureyri have issued a warning to the general public to be mindful of the possibility of horses on the highway. As the northern town has been hit with the most snow in a decade, fences that normally keep horses in their pastures are in some cases completely buried in snow. At the same time, feeding areas horses normally go to are rendered inaccessible, prompting the creatures to look elsewhere for food.

These conditions have led to police having to be called out to the stretch of Highway 1 leading out of town to clear horses off the road on at least two occasions this month.

“It’s very dangerous when such large animals leave their fenced-in areas and go up on the highway,” Daníel Guðjónsson, the chief of police in Akureyri, told reporters. “We advise farmers and those who own livestock in this area to take care of their fences. If the fences cannot be repaired, than the best thing to do is bring the horses into a barn so no major accidents happen.”

So far, there have been no collisions with horses. If you are driving through Akureyri, please drive carefully and keep your eyes peeled for hungry horses wandering around on the highway.