FAQs
Are the people in the advisory group being paid?
No, they are volunteering their time and expertise or are participating as part of their regular job duties.
Aren’t these horses protected under federal law?
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 are under the jurisdiction of state law.
Can residents petition to have the horses removed?
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.