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:
  1. Abandoned Horses: MCA § 81-4-5
  2. Estray Horses: MCA § 81-4-6
  3. Herd Districts: MCA § 81-4-3
  4. 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 open house highlighting the recommendations and providing residents with a chance to bring any questions or concerns to staff. The County is looking to hold the open house sometime in February or early March. Many considerations go into planning a public event, including participant schedules and venue availability.

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.

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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.