Feral Horses in Miller Creek
Missoula County is currently exploring options to address concerns around feral horses that roam between the Miller Creek area of Missoula and south into the Bitterroot Valley. This specific band of horses, believed to be descended from rodeo stock from a former ranch that existed in Miller Creek in the 1970s, have become increasingly present in densely populated residential areas over the last few years.
Residents have raised concerns about these horses related to public safety, spread of disease, their impact on area livestock, and increased habituation to people and human food sources. The County has also heard from residents who enjoy the feral horses' presence in their neighborhoods.
It is not clear under state law which agency, if any, has jurisdiction to manage feral horses in Montana. After discussing the issue with the Montana Department of Livestock, Missoula County convened the following agency representatives with subject matter expertise in land and livestock management, ecology and law enforcement:
- Dan Bugni, Lindsey Simon, Dustin Datisman, Jay Bodner, Tahnee Szymanski – Montana Department of Livestock
- Chuck Casper – MPG Ranch
- Natalie Sullivan – MSU Extension Office
- Randy Arnold – Missoula County Lands, Culture and Recreation
- Chris Lounsbury – Missoula County Commissioners’ Office
- Paul Pfau – Montana Highway Patrol
- Jeremiah Petersen – Missoula County Sheriff’s Office
- Bryce Christians – Missoula County Ecology and Extension
- Chet Crowser – Missoula County Office of Lands and Communities
- Bart Morris – Oxbow Cattle Co.
The group met in December and discussed the following considerations:
Background
Feral horses have been part of the Missoula County landscape for more than a century, with historical accounts dating back to the early 1900s. Private landowners have periodically conducted roundups of feral horses on their properties, The roundups most recently occurred in 1991, 2003, 2012 and 2023 (in the most recent roundup, the horses were sold to buyers interested in their rodeo stock lineage). Horses continue to remain in the area today, and a smaller band has moved closer to residential areas, raising new questions about safety and management.
- Horses require about 35 acres per head for sustainable grazing, based on the Animal Unit Month (AUM) standard.
- Development pressures are reducing available range.
- Populations can double every 4 to 5 years, and gestation lasts about 11 months.
- Several bands exist in the Miller Creek and surrounding areas, with some groups consistently in residential subdivisions.
Health Concerns
- Feral horses pose limited risk to other species, but domestic horses can be affected.
- Diseases of concern include equine herpes, influenza, equine infectious anemia, salmonella, pigeon fever and equine piroplasmosis (which can remain undetected for long periods).
- The spread of disease can impact the livelihood of landowners in the area who depend on domestic horses to conduct business.
- Vaccines exist for some diseases but are not fully preventative. There are also logistical considerations around how to contain and vaccinate the feral horses.
Public Safety
- A documented vehicle collision occurred in September 2025, resulting in the death of one of the feral stallions.
- Horses can weigh up to 1,500 lbs., creating significant hazards on roadways.
- Stallions may be aggressive and territorial, especially near homes.
- Horse bites are extremely strong — capable of crushing bone without breaking the skin.
- Dogs and horses do not mix well; protective instincts around foals increase risk to both animals.
Legal and Jurisdiction Considerations
- Horses are considered abandoned livestock, not wildlife. This differs from urban deer and other wildlife, which fall the authority under Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
- Jurisdiction primarily falls to private landowners, county and state entities, not federal. The horses primarily being on private property is the main complicating factor; if they were on public land, government agencies would have clearer jurisdiction.
- Relevant Montana Code Annotated sections:
- Abandoned Horses: MCA § 81-4-5
- Estray Horses: MCA § 81-4-6
- Herd Districts: MCA § 81-4-3
- Additional legal framework: Title 81, Livestock
Community Perspectives
- Many residents value the horses and want to see them documented and monitored.
- Others express concerns about safety, property damage, and disease transmission.
- Local agricultural producers worry about the spread of disease and other impacts on domestic horses and business operations.
This group will continue to explore potential options for managing the feral horses and provide staff with their recommendations.
The County will engage the public on any potential recommendations sometime in the next few months, which will include a public event highlighting the recommendations and providing residents with a chance to bring any questions or concerns to staff.
The county commissioners would then consider adopting the recommendations at one of their public meetings, which take place most Thursdays at 2 p.m. Information on future meetings will also be posted on this page.
Click the subscribe button to the right to receive updates on next steps when they are determined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are the people in the advisory group being paid?
A: No, they are volunteering their time and expertise or are participating as part of their regular job duties.
Q: Are county staff meeting with individual residents for their input outside of the group with subject matter expertise?
A: No, staff have not met with individuals who are not part of the advisory group. Some individuals have provided public comment to the commissioners at public meetings, which take place regularly and are open to anyone.
Q: Aren't these horses protected under federal law?
A: No, the federal Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 does not apply to these horses. The band of Miller Creek horses, and the larger herd that roams between Upper Miller Creek and Florence, occupy a mix of private and state land. The 1971 Act only protects mustangs and burros on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Equines protected under this federal law are relegated to federal herd management areas. Miller Creek and the Bitterroot/Sapphire region are not herd management areas. Free-roaming horses that are not part of these federal herds fall under the jurisdiction of state law.
Q: Can residents petition to have the horses removed?
A: Yes, there is a process to petition the commissioners under a state law first enacted in 1925: MCA 81-4-503. The commissioners have received no such petition. Missoula County’s goal is to avoid this scenario by exploring a proactive management plan.
Q: Why doesn’t the County do something about the urban deer in the area instead?
A: Deer are considered wildlife and fall under the jurisdiction of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Also, much of residential area impacted by urban deer is within Missoula city limits. The City of Missoula is in discussions with FWP about how to address chronic wasting disease and other concerns around urban deer.
Who's Listening
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Phone 406-258-3293
As a member of the greater Missoula community and student of Environmental Science, I recognize the role of feral horses in the Miller Creek neighborhood may hold great nostalgic value to many. However, the problems that have arisen in recent years through the growth of the feral population cannot be ignored. This population of feral horses raises concerns regarding public safety of both human and livestock populations, and also holds the possibility to pose environmental problems to local ecosystems if the population continues to grow out of control. The population growth of these horses must be curved, and approaches such as fertility control should be considered to prevent exponential birth rates. The possibility of relocation of these herds should be considered as well. Advisors competent in the ecological impacts of feral horse populations in turn should be consulted before final decisions are proposed. The role of feral horse activity has been found to reduce environmental quality across varying types of ecosystems, and a proper assessment of the role of these horses on the environment must be done before a management decision is made. The overall health and prosperity of local Missoula ecosystems must be made a priority in decision making in regard to the situation at hand.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719311978
Hello All,
I am also a student at the University of Montana studying Environmental Science. The problem with the feral horses in Miller Creek is an issue that is growing more problematic every day. I think it would be best for the horses to be deterred from the very quickly growing neighborhood. I am connected to this problem not only as an assignment to engage with the community but also through my job I am a bus driver for the local company Beach Transportation and encounter the horses very often when in the neighborhood dropping and picking up children. I think it is a growing safety concern for the children in the neighborhood. I believe that with how many people are in Miller Creek area and with that number growing daily; the horses should be dealt with for the safety of the community involved and the best interest of the horses that have become an iconic part of Miller Creek. Attached I have an article that states many different options when dealing with feral horses' populations that are growing in unwanted areas. Some of these options could be beneficial in finding multiple different avenues for dealing with the horses in the near future. https://www.humaneworld.org/en/wild-horse-and-burro-management
As a wildlife biology student at the University of Montana, I care deeply about the well being of the animals on the landscape and the health of the ecosystem. I also understand the complexities of human-wildlife relationship and I recognize the unique relationship that Missoulians have with the animals they share the land with. Although many in the community are accustomed to having them around, I believe that it is in the best interest of both the animals, other wildlife, and the community to prevent this population from increasing much further. Feral horses are non-native and considered to be invasive due to their impact on the ecosystems and the competition they introduce to native species, (The Wildlife Society, 2020). Additionally, because the horses do not have natural predators in the area, human intervention will likely be necessary at some point to keep the populations in check. But fertility treatment can be expensive for the county and would require ongoing treatment. In 2020, the estimated cost for the BLM to use an immunocontraceptive agent to be $2,500 per mare (Congressional Research Service, 2022). Because of the costs, I believe a combination of removal, containment, and potentially fertility control may be needed to find a long-term solution best for all parties, especially as development continues and the population continues to increase, so conflicts will likely become more common.
Congressional Research Service. (2022, July 13). Wild Horse and Burro Management: Overview of Costs. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11060/IF11060.5.pdf
The Wildlife Society. (2020, March 24). TWS Issue Statement: Feral Horses and Burros in North America. https://wildlife.org/tws-issue-statement-feral-horses-and-burros-in-north-america/
I am a Missoula resident and an environmental science and policy student. I recognize that this issue involves balancing community values with public safety and responsible land management. The Miller Creek horses are a unique part of the local landscape, but the increasing overlap between residential development and the herd’s range has created legitimate concerns. Reports of vehicle collisions and horse injuries demonstrate the need for proactive management. Considering the horses fall outside federal wild horse protections, their management requires coordination among multiple local and state agencies. I recommend that Missoula County establish a collaborative management strategy that includes the Montana Department of Livestock, Montana FWP, and local stakeholders. This approach could help clarify jurisdiction and ensure that decisions are informed by both ecological knowledge and community input.
Furthermore, the county could implement public education efforts discouraging residents from feeding or approaching the horses, as this behavior can promote habituation and dangerous interactions. Safety measures such as road signage in areas frequently crossed by the herd could also reduce the risk of vehicle collisions. If conflicts continue to escalate, the county should evaluate humane population management options, such as fertility control or relocation, in partnership with qualified organizations. Taking a proactive and collaborative approach now can reduce risks while respecting the values many community members place on these animals.
As a student and resident of Missoula county who works with horses regularly, the main issue I see with the horses in the Miller Creek area is that it's a huge safety risk. With the horses regulalrly moving through residental areas and across busy roads. Many resident do enjoy seeing the animals on almost a daily basis, but there are some problems that end up happening. With the increase in interaction between the people and horses has already resulted in at least on fatal vehicle collision and could possibly lead to more. As someone who owns a horse, I understand how how unpredictable a horse can be when they are scared or pressured by traffic and development. Due to this I beleieve Missoula County should begin to monitor the herd and explore management options such as fertilioty control and even relocation is needed. Taking action now would help prevent furture accidents, while still allowing the horses to be present in the landscape.
As a resident of Missoula, Montana and a Wildlife Biology student at the University of Montana, this particular issue with the Miller Creek feral horses is of special interest to me. After reading over many of the comments provided on this page and doing my own background research into feral horse policy, it seems like the biggest challenge with any sort of action on these horses is so much conflicting public opinion.
It seems like the population of feral horses around Miller Creek is relatively small at the moment, but the problem is that their group continues to come into closer contact with residents, posing a safety risk to people, pets, and property. With such a complicated issue, I think the best solution could be small, manageable action steps. While the feral horse population is still small, individuals should be sterilized to prevent the group from growing bigger and becoming more destructive. Many current sterilization methods can be contentious because of how invasive the procedures are, but more and more research is coming out looking into non-surgical sterilization tools like PZP and GnRH vaccines (BLM Wild Horse and Burro Strategic Research Plan Appendix C)*. This group of feral horses and other groups nearby should be being closely monitored. If the population starts becoming too large, or if incidents start happening between the horses and the public then removal should be more seriously considered. I could not find any specific information about any monitoring efforts, so I do not know if that is already happening. If not, I think that information would be helpful in providing the public with factual, scientific information to make an informed decision.
*https://www.equineadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/BLM-Fertility-Control-Methods-2021.pdf
There are two ways that the Miller Horse Creek Project can be managed; managing the people, and managing the horses. A hybrid system has the potential for the most success when combatting this issue.
It was noted that there are many concerns with the relationship between vehicle users and feral horses, which was exacerbated by the event held last fall with the fatal collision of a feral horse. As a graduating student of Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management, a large portion of my studies went to design and structure of resources and human pathways that mitigate conflict and stress points. After reading several pages of comments from fellow stakeholders and residents of Missoula County, I noted a trend in folks who are supportive in the protection and continuation of feral horse residency in Miller Creek and adjacent locations. With the decreased habitat and growing human development mentioned in Missoula County’s report, if the option of keeping the Miller Creek herd rather than transporting elsewhere is sustained, then there must be changes made to the current infrastructure to mitigate future conflict and that is adaptable. I have included a link from a literary review regarding different methods of road design and their relationships with vehicle speed using scientific methods in Scotland. (https://www.trl.co.uk/uploads/trl/documents/TRL564.pdf).
When it comes to the horse end of things, I have a difficult time thinking of any concrete ways to control horse behavior or movement besides physical barriers and control of food and water sources. For managing the herd population itself, there are several contraceptive methods and techniques for administering that have little to no effect on horse health and quality of life besides temporary sterility. These methods are used on the national level and by the Bureau of Land Management on much larger scales, though I understand that there is much controversy that surrounds this topic and could be worthy of a comment period in and of itself. Scientific findings for contraceptives and mention of adoption programs to manage herd size can be found at this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1080744616300808.
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