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ALL BY MYSELF

Woman, 67, has lived on one of the world’s most remote islands by HERSELF for 40 years – even though it’s shrouded in fog for 127 days of the year

The citizen scientist spends her days collecting horse skulls to help with research

A WOMAN who has lived alone on a remote island for 40 years insists she never gets lonely - as long as she's got her binoculars to hand to admire its stunning wildlife.

Zoe Lucas, 67, lives in a wooden-clad house on Sable Island off the coast of Canada, which is covered in fog for around 127 days of the year.

Scientist Zoe Lucas, 67, has lived on a remote island off the coast of Canada for 40 years and spends her days collecting horses' skulls
Scientist Zoe Lucas, 67, has lived on a remote island off the coast of Canada for 40 years and spends her days collecting horses' skullsCredit: Sadie Whitelocks/ MailOnline
Zoe lives alone in a wooden-clad house with only wildlife for company
Zoe lives alone in a wooden-clad house with only wildlife for companyCredit: Sadie Whitelocks/ MailOnline

But despite that, Zoe feels perfectly at home in the peace and quiet - with 400 horses, 300,000 grey seals and 350 species of bird to keep her company on the 26-mile island.

She first fell in love with Sable Island when visiting as a 21-year-old student in 1971 and soon made it her home.

Speaking to , Zoe said: "I squawked and squawked, I wanted to come so bad. I originally came out here for the horses."

Now a citizen scientist, the 67-year-old rarely returns to her hometown of Halifax in Nova Scotia - and instead depends on supplies being flown in on a weekly basis.

There is no way to reach the island, other than by boat or charter plane.

It earned the nickname "graveyard of the Atlantic" after more than 300 shipwrecks.

There are 400 horses living on the island after they were brought over in the early 18th century to help with agricultural work
There are 400 horses living on the island after they were brought over in the early 18th century to help with agricultural workCredit: Sadie Whitelocks/ MailOnline
The sandy shores on Sable Island have been home to more than 300 shipwrecks over the years
The sandy shores on Sable Island have been home to more than 300 shipwrecks over the yearsCredit: Sadie Whitelocks/ MailOnline

What are the key facts about Sable Island?

SABLE Island is 26 miles long and 0.93 miles across at its widest point.

It is situated 190 miles away from Halifax on the Nova Scotian mainland.

The island is home to 400 horses, 300,000 grey seals and 350 species of bird.

In the winter, temperatures average near freezing on the island, with peaks of 20 degrees in the summer.

Sable Island is covered in fog 127 years of the year - which is thought to be the reason there have been more than 300 shipwrecks on its shores.

It's only possible to visit the island by boat or charter plane.

On June 20, 2013, Sable became a National Park Reserve.

The 67-year-old spends her time studying ecology on the island
The 67-year-old spends her time studying ecology on the islandCredit: Sadie Whitelocks/ MailOnline

During her four decades living on the island, a refrigerator, crateful of fresh peppers from a shipping container, popped balloon carcasses and even a fake LEG has washed up on the beach.

Zoe spends her days studying ecology and collecting horses' skulls so that scientists can discover how the animals have been able to adapt to the island's stark landscape.

In 2013 Sable Island was made a National Park Reserve on June 20, 2013.

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