Chincoteague Warnings and Dangers

Not only do you have to watch out for pedestrians who are distracted by the wildlife, you have to watch out for the wildlife itself. You will encounter a lot of the wildlife there--whether it be the ponies, deer, birds, or whatever else you might find. If you are driving, observe the posted speeds. Perhaps you'll even want to go slower than that. Stay to the paths that are there to protect the uniqueness and pristine quality of the reserve on the island. Pick up after yourself--that goes without saying. It is not uncommon to have a close encounter with a deer or three as you are biking (as happened to me). I just turned around and went on a different path rather than disturb them, even though I was on the path.

Bug repellant would be advisable, especially near dusk.

Also, if you bike or walk, be sure to carry water with you, as it might be awhile before you can get some more. Take care of that before you get onto Assateague Island, as there are no commercial properties on the island. That is the wonderful thing about it. There are no hotels, shops or houses once you cross over into Assateague Island. If you need any sort of supplies, it is best to get them before you get to Chincoteague or Assateague Island, but if you need anything, you should be able to find those things in the small shops in Chincoteague.

Prepare for different types of weather. The first day I was there, it was cool (about 14 C) and rainy, and this was in July. I nearly lost my umbrella on the beach to the wind, and then figuring it wasn't raining too heavily, decided to abandon it in my car and just walk along the beach with a jacket on. The second day was warmer, but still cool (around 20 C) for that time of summer. Suntan lotion is also advisable.