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
I live in Lower Miller Creek and urge you to leave the wild horses alone and focus on larger issues affecting Missoulians.
Leave the horses alone. They are nice to see in our front yard. They do way less damage than the deer, and it makes people smile. There aren't enough of them that it's a problem. This is the first year they've been around so much. We may not see them as much next year.
People, the difference between FERAL and WILD is huge especially in this case, these are FERAL and don’t fall under any federal jurisdiction not BLM they belong to Missoula City and County, no one wants to eradicate or get rid of, just quietly manage, you can read my opinion down below.
Sincerely
Paula F.
Obviously leaving the heard is instrumental to their culture and ours, foals at weaning (6 months) can be caught and adopted in a silent sale, individually stalled where prospective owners could view them indoors at a horse facility or the fairgrounds indoors like in a building like the old dairy barn, open air stalls would scare them terribly definitely put a min. bid of $700 or higher to weed out people who want a cheap horse and horse traders, with the money being put in horse account for future needs for them. All the horses that appeared on the news, were exceptionally well built and straight legged, and because they are half tame, quietly capturing the offspring in small spots and with just a few horses around would be the easiest and less trauma for all involved, I would love to have that buckskin mare, she looks like a blooded QH, and her color was excellent, but I’m too old now unfortunately, Missoula has a very unique opportunity to not only manage the animals but create bidding wars (I always paid good money for nice looking and well built animals such as these, eventually you could swap stallions out with another quality stallion! You could make this a real draw for buyers and those who just love horses, pictures of foals would spread like wildfire, the sky is the limit with them ( like the wild horses in Europe each fall, they are rounded up foals weaned and sold privately in sealed bids. They even sell yearlings…
Keep us posted on how it progresses.
Sincerely
Paula F.
A very simplistic question to a not so simple answer.
Asking out of curiosity.
Can some be adopted?
The horses should be captured and transported to either wildhorse island or the Pryor mountains. The provide a significant safety risk to themselves and to residents and it would not be fair for them to be involved in a fatal accident when it can be avoided.
The horses are a part of Missoula, why would we want to get rid of them? If people dont know to leave wild animals alone, why are they in Montana? As far as livestock, there are many ways to deter the horses and avoid relocation or culling. This is their home just as much as it is ours. So i say leave them!
Leave the wild horses alone they arent harming anyone. As a resident for my whole life here in the Missoula area they are peaceful animals. That out of towners / staters should just leave alone. These animals should be protected from the public.
The wild horses have survived for years. Humans should leave them alone to survive. They live with all the changes we create and have the right to live free. Please leave alone
It may not be clear "under state law" which agency has jurisdiction over these horses, but it is pretty clear under Federal law. In 1971, the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed, giving specific protections to "ALL unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands of the United States" and directing the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to protect and preserve them in their "historic range" (most wild horses are managed by the BLM today). Since the presence of the herd in question has been well-documented since the 50's, well before the Act was passed, and their range certainly includes some public lands, they clearly qualify for protection under it. Moreover, under federal law they are considered "wildlife", and it is just as unlawful for an unauthorized entity to "remove" them as it would be to remove an inconvenient herd of elk or bighorn sheep. In other words, leave the horses be. They were there first!
I want to thank the Missoula County Commissioners for addressing this issue responsibly and now. As a longtime Missoula resident, I care deeply about the health and safety of the Miller Creek horses. I have studied applicable federal and state laws, which on their face offer little or no protection for these horses except to the extent state law allows Montana counties to determine how feral horses can best be protected. I have been advocating the very approach proposed by the commissioners, namely putting together a group of experts to determine whether a viable management plan can be developed. Such a plan should first and foremost ensure that these horses are kept alive, healthy, and preferably together on suitable land where they can continue roaming with permanent food supplies. Although a number of Miller Creek and other Missoula residents advocate leaving the horses alone, I do not share this view unless the county's experts reach a consensus that leaving them alone is in the horses' best interests; or otherwise conclude that no plan is feasible.
Even if the county decides to do nothing for now, Montana law may well require the county to round them up and dispose of them anyway if enough affected landowners petition for this. As I read the roundup and other related statutes, the county may have some latitude in determining the nature of any such roundup, but it seems clear that the horses will lose out if a roundup occurs. For this reason I urge the commissioners to move as quickly as possible, in consultation with its appointed experts, to develop a proposed plan before any roundup petition is filed. Assuming it keeps the horses alive, healthy and together, I expect this kind of plan will get a near Missoula resident consensus.
Thanks for considering my views.
David Aronofsky
Missoula needs to address the urban deer problem as well. It is out of control.
Perhaps someone could round them up and herd them, or otherwise transport them back into the (more) uninhabited Miller creek area. At the very least, no not resort to a round up to sell/auction these animals. Auctions are rampant with abuse and cruelty.
Perhaps, signage and lower speed limits, a funnel to a gate system to safer crossing at more traveled roads or intersections. Think highway 93 north.
I am a horse owner and advocate. My focus is always on educating people about horses. This herd is not a wild horse band under government protection, which in some ways is good, but it also means no one takes responsibility for their care and welfare. We all know how difficult it is to get help for injured deer...these horses have no one when there is an injury or they find themselves in dangerous situations. These horses need an advocacy group backed by a team with knowledge of horses and the horses' well-being in mind. This group is not selfishly trying to remove the horses, but trying to protect them and give the public a place to learn more about horses. I definitely would like to be part of this advocacy group.
I've commented several times on NextDoor, but since this is now officially "an issue", I'll repeat myself.
My grandfather, Walt Peery, originally raised American Saddle Bred horses on a ranch that later became Reg Kessler's rodeo ranch. The feral horses were there then, but stayed well away from civilization. While Kessler's stock may have contributed to the herd, it didn't start it. My grandfather switched to registered black Angus after the depression. I still have posters selling off his horses at auction for next to nothing. I grew up riding horses in Miller Creek, Target Range, and South Hills. These horses have not been a problem until we, the people, moved upward into their grounds.
We have deer, elk, moose, coyotes and, mountain lions in the valley. No one seems to want to manage the hundreds of deer in Miller Creek. We've educated most of the population that they are NOT pets! The deer continue to walk in front of cars, through fences, and challenge pets and people at times. They are WILDLIFE. Eliminate some of them and fill empty freezers. Helena has had a successful program for years. Maybe spend some of that park and sidewalk money on a plan. There was a deer with a mangled leg that was laying in a yard in Lower MC. F, W, & P basically said to call them when he is actively dying. I haven't asked for an update.
I had to laugh at the writer that said she's not buying a house in Miller Creek because of the feral horses. What a blessing!
Think this through, people. Why do you live here?
Commissioners,
Thank you for considering public input on the feral horses in Missoula County. I’m asking the County to take practical steps that improve both animal welfare and public safety.
Right now, there is no clear agency responsible for responding when these horses are injured, involved in traffic incidents, or pushed into residential areas. This gap leaves animals suffering longer than necessary and leaves the public unsure who to call in an emergency.
I am requesting three actions:
1. Adopt ordinances that prohibit feeding, petting, or watering the horses, since human interaction draws them into dangerous situations.
2. Designate a county agency with authority to respond to emergencies involving these horses, including injury, illness, or safety concerns.
3. Support a volunteer community group to help with education, school outreach, and non-harmful methods of moving horses out of neighborhoods, as well as assisting with placement if any animals need rehoming.
Every other animal population in Montana has an established management path. These horses deserve the same level of responsible oversight. Simply “leaving them alone” is not a functional management plan.
We love the wild horses! It is such a magical part of our living experience in Missoula and in the Miller Creek area. Please protect these beautiful animals!
This seems to be a very real concern both for the horses and the community. It is very reasonable to establish an agency that can oversee the horses when there are any emergencies that arise and work to educate the public in safe interactions with the horses. Signage would be helpful too so that people are aware that of the various wildlife that wanders close to, or on the roadways, wild horses are among them. I hope for a sensible solution that allows for the wild horses’ health and safety, public education around interacting with them, and proper agency oversight that can assist in emergencies that arise.
Post more signs to look out for them and leave them alone! I'd much rather have "feral" horses roaming about than homeless transients!
Wild, or domesticated, we should always be aware and cautious around animals, especially large animals. Education and signs could be helpful. I love seeing the wild horses. They are so unique and enjoyable to watch. Please leave them up there!