Three cows have been spotted seeking refuge on a remote island on North Carolina's Outer Banks, swept to an unlikely grazing spot when Hurricane Dorian whipped waves powerful enough to carry them over 3 kilometres from their home.

Key points: The wild herd of cows lived in marshes on Cedar Island, North Carolina

The wild herd of cows lived in marshes on Cedar Island, North Carolina Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas on September 6, creating a storm that swept up the US coastline

Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas on September 6, creating a storm that swept up the US coastline Since no-one owns the cows, authorities are still deciding the animals' fate

One of the cows was seen soon after the category-one storm struck on September 6 and now two others have joined her at Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Park Ranger Karen Duggan said all were members of a wild herd of cattle that lived in marshes on an interior island known as Cedar Island, about 3-5 kilometres closer to the mainland than the island park.

A cow after Hurricane Dorian grazing in her new home on a remote island. ( Supplied: US National Parks Service )

"The water picked them up, carried them, they managed to stay afloat and come to rest on our island," Ms Duggan said.

"They can all swim, but they are not the best swimmers.

Rest of herd presumed dead

"Of the cattle that got swept away - and I don't know how many that was - only three of them have managed to find footing on the islands that remain."

A cow typically weighs between 200 kilograms up to a tonne and the swell was deep enough to carry at least three of them across the water.

Since no-one owns the cows, authorities are still deciding the animals' fate, including whether they can continue to graze on the beach, feeding off nearby marshes.

Authorities are deciding the future of the wild cows (pictured on Cedar Island in July 2017 before the storm). ( Supplied: Rhonda Hunter Photography )

"We have not been able to locate anyone who claims them," Ms Duggan said.

"They were just allowed on property.

No-one took care of them, no-one gave them vet care, no-one handled them.

"Therefore they are wild."

The wild cows can weigh anywhere between 200kg-1 tonne. ( Supplied: US National Parks Service )

While it's unclear how the rest of the wild cattle herd fared, wild horses that live on nearby Shackleford Banks island not only survived but thrived despite the deadly storm that ravaged the Bahamas and killed at least 50 people.

"We didn't lose any horses during the storm," Ms Duggan said.

"We've got 115 wild horses, including the newest foal, which was born during the hurricane."

Reuters