Feral Horses in Miller Creek

I have never seen a horse jump out in front of an auto and all adults should be aware of the danger of approaching a non pet creature like horses and deer. We preach to our children and grandchildren that important lesson.
We have been forced to put up a yard fence not because of the horses but the deer. So start with controlling the deer.

Can we have some wild horse x-ing signs?

When they get North of the second junction of Upper and Lower Miller creek (the gravel pit) they are clearly hazardous.

The horses are frequently in my neighborhood. They are nice to watch but they are damaging public and private property. They are spending much time in the Maloney Ranch Park and the adjacent elementary school playground. The horses leave behind ample deposits of manure. The area that the horses range has increased significantly over the past few years.

Let’s stop the development in miller creek and let the horses reclaim the land.

These horses have been here for decades. To say they are a nuisance is absurd, we're the issue.

We're the ones expanding further and further up Miller Creek. For years they've roamed freely mostly unseen in residential areas until like 3 years ago.

Individuals are also feeding them like pets, drawing them down further into town. The real issue we need to address is the community feeding wildlife and not using common sense. This is why there are so many deer in town. Where's the petition to manage our "deer and squirrel epidemic," while we're at it? They are wild/ non-domesticated animals, just like all of our cats/bears/elk/ moose/Bison/ect.. But sure, let's go pet that Bison and cry when it's horns gore you.

Please! Just slow down and be a defensive driver. It's no different than needing to be alert for any other wildlife. Whether it's deer in the middle of downtown or the south hills, raccoons crossing Russell, elk running through Huson or Buttler Creek, Moose on 12. Just pay attention! Establishing a fencing boundary could be beneficial like at the Bison Range, and a shelter/center for BLM management.

Furthermore, the Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Protection Act of 1971 (16 USC Chapter 30) defined wild horses to mean all unbranded and unclaimed horses. I do believe this herd classifies as "unbranded and unclaimed." They deserve our protection. How lucky are we to have the Bison Range and these "Living symbols of the West," right in our backyard.

The County Commissioners are not doing nothing. They have gathered experts from various areas and are having a meeting to discuss a management plan this next week. They are taking everyone's opinions and perspectives into consideration. The laws that are being used against these horses have been on the books since before the 1930's. Right now these two bands of horses have limited protection and no one has jurisdiction over these horses. The status quo is not working anymore sadly due to the two auto accidents and the child being hurt. These incidents were human caused sadly and with the land development in that area these horses are now in trouble. They could be shot as nuisance animals. They could be rounded up as well. They want a management plan to have clear jurisdiction over the horses with tools on how to manage them. Ideally a rancher taking them in would be ideal. Does anyone know a rancher with land large enough because these herds roam a great distance. I don't know how they would react to being in a new area or neighborhood if they were relocated. It is my hope that no one wants them slaughtered just redomesticated for their own wellbeing. I know they have lived there since the 50s and 60s and us humans have taken up the land they roam. None of this is fair, just, or right. I have been loosing sleep over this myself. We all got to think what is best for these horses given what is happening in our growing community right now. My last thought is if we remove these two bands of horses then more will come to this area because it is a haven area for them. We solve the feral horses temporarily but more will come in hence a management plan is needed. I trust our County Commissioners and these experts to do the right thing by these horses and our community.

I live in Linda Vista. This summer, the horses came down Linda Vista as far as Marilyn Park and nearby side streets. They did less damage to vegetation than the numerous deer that consume gardens and landscaping. I appreciate the County’s measured, proactive response to the situation. Chris Lounsbury presented the County’s message clearly to the media for the evening news on December 4th.
I see the potential for more serious damage to property if they stay in residential areas for longer periods, and could cause more serious damage to vehicles and occupants if involved in a collision. Because they appear placid and tame, they are attractive to unsuspecting kids, and it may be just a matter of time before another child is injured if they approach. They are beautiful animals and currently appear healthy. If one gets hit or injured, what will be done for the animal? Is there a risk to domestic livestock ?
Lots of questions and scenarios to consider, so I’m glad the County is looking at the situation.

Shouldn't there be some sort of health check, lineage, and head count before plausible solutions can be offered?
And if these things are already known when will the general public know this?
Is there a petition to keep them in the area?
I welcome anybody's input.

Hopefully, co-existence will be possible. The horses may not be classified as “wild”, but they have lived in the area for more than 5 decades. They were here first, before all the houses and people. Humane anti-fertility drugs could be employed, but it is not ideal. Residents could join together to protect these horses with safety and “fencing-out” programs. The very worst thing would be roundups and shipments to Mexican or Canadian slaughterhouses, which horrifically happens to many wild horses “managed” by the BLM, and also to unwanted horse who end up at the sale ring. I truly hope that people will organize to discuss solutions, and be vigilant so that these horses don’t get loaded onto kill trucks.

I live on 6405 Gharrett Ave and do not want horses removed.
The people complaining are the ones that speed on our roads.
As far as growth in Miller Creek. How come you have not addressed roads to and from that area. The only accord Miller Creek and Gharrett. Now we have traffic that speeds at least 40 miles an hour.
Deer are more prevalent and people don’t care…
Keep our area rural…

Provide birth control and let the current herd live out their natural life spans.
Provide signage for traffic safety for horses and public.

I have lived up in miller Creek for a long time. I barely ever see the family of horses. You gave to go look for them. Due to a handful of people who like to complain this us where we are at. The Deer are more apt. To get hit than the horses. Just put lights up here and maybe some light up signs that say SLOW Down Deer and HORSES in area. Leave them alone please.

There is an email going around from Natalie at the County extension office talking about the culling of the stallion. Culling is "killing". They plan to humanely put down the stallion? This is your start of a management plan?? This just breaks my heart. I do not support the killing, rounding up, steralization or moving of the herd in Miller Creek and I will publicly fight for their freedom.

Please leave the horses alone. They are not a problem I live in Upper Missoula Creek.

We have lived in lower miller creek for 24 years, not far from Jeanette Rankin school. This summer/fall was the first time the horses roamed as far as our area. I love seeing them, however I have witnessed people getting too close to them and fear people unfamiler with how to treat "wildlife" will get hurt or endanger their children. I've also driven up here long enough to know that people drive too fast, even though it's a residential area, and that mixed with the large horses roaming the streets is a recipe for disaster. What happens when they roam as far as Walmart (That intersetion at Dore lane is already ridiculously dangerous) or even Highway 93? For the sake of the horses and humans safety, I am in support of looking at this issue to see what the solutions could be.

Be sure to factor Montana House Bill 791, enacted into law earlier this year to revise Montana nuisance laws, into whatever Missoula County decides to do. Montana law already defines the Miller Creek horses as a public nuisance so the new lsw applies and its abatement langusge helps all concerned including the horses.

Thank you for your service on this matter. In my opinion I love having the horses in my neighborhood. If we want to address an animal problem it is the deer. The deer are way more of a problem for traffic and the destruction to property owners

Our family resides near the mid-reach of Miller Creek, about 4 miles up from Linda Vista. We have seen the horses on the road above our property a couple of times, and during our drives into town and back. On rare occasions, we have had to stop on Miller Creek Road to allow them to cross. We enjoy seeing them and prefer they not be removed. These horses, like us humans, are a part of the history of this land we all inhabit.
I look forward to recommendations that ensure the safety and well-being of humans and horses, and hopefully allow us to coexist on our lands. I appreciate this opportunity to provide the following comments.
Use of Evidence
I strongly encourage your group to use an evidence-based process when drafting the recommendations. I believe these recommendations should be grounded in the following five dimensions of evidence:
• Experience/Judgement: Practitioner/decision maker's tacit experience developing similar recommendations, with understanding gained of what worked, what didn't, and why.
• Scientific (Technical): Journals, reports, maps; data collection; data bases; historical documents.
• Social/Political (Stakeholders): Values, concerns, and perspectives of all those (internal/external) who are affected by the decision, or have an interest in the decision.
• Human Behavior: Actual known behaviors of individuals that are relevant to the situation.
• Organizational (Business): Governance (Laws, Regulations, Direction); Business Capacity (Funding, People, Resources), and Operational (Historic Costs, Seasonal) Considerations
Analysis of evidence requires critical thinking to form a judgment on its credibility by evaluating the information, recognizing bias, challenging assumptions, and considering alternative perspectives.
Definitions
Definitions are important here. All horses on our continent are either domesticated or feral; the last truly wild horses disappeared some 10,000 years ago. So, while it is biologically accurate to call these horses feral, culturally, they are more often referred to as wild. Furthermore, the Wild Horse and Burros Protection Act of 1971 (16 USC Chapter 30) defined wild horses to mean all unbranded and unclaimed horses.
Oral History vs Genetics
The ancestry of these horses is a critical factor in determining their treatment. I found no evidence to either prove or disprove the information contained in the 2019 Missoulian article entitled "Ghost herd: Wild horses make rare appearance," regarding the mention that these horses are of both Bitterroot Salish and rough rodeo stock ancestry. The oral history of the rough rodeo stock, together with the physical appearance of the horses inhabiting Miller Creek yards and pastures, provides clarity on that notion. However, there are only unclear remnants of a Bitterroot Salish component.
There is factual information that the Salish experienced a Starvation Winter in 1890, followed in 1891 by a forced march (also known as the Salish Trail of Tears) from the Bitterroot Valley to what is now the Flathead Reservation. However, there is only anecdotal evidence that they had to release some horses because they could not feed them during this Starvation Winter, and that they were not successful in taking all of their horses with them during this march. There may be some historical information regarding this in the manuscript of General Henry Carrington, the march commander ("The Exodus of the Flatheads from Their Ancestral Home in the Garden Valley, Montana to the Jocko Reservation, Montana"), which is apparently available in a special section at the University of Montana's library.
What is needed here is the collection and analysis of DNA evidence from these horses. This DNA is available from the neighborhoods where the horses are currently roaming. Preferably, samples of their hair with the root bulb intact (higher quality) or their scat (droppings) should be available and provide ample DNA. Samples from these horses in fenced pastures should not be included due to possible contamination from the domesticated horses inhabiting these pastures. An accredited laboratory must analyze these samples. The DNA should show varying proportions of draft, quarter-horse, and, potentially, thoroughbred horses used in rodeos, and may also show DNA from the Spanish mustangs of the Bitterroot Salish.
If the DNA shows evidence of Colonial Spanish or specific Salish genetic markers, then these horses would likely qualify as a "heritage herd" similar to the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Herd. If this is the case, then your recommendation group will need to be expanded to include representation from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).
Human Behavior
Humans often make poor choices when interacting with unfamiliar animals. Like in Yellowstone National Park, where there is a whimsical notion of "don't pet the fluffy cows", there are still people who approach and try to pet the Bison, often threatening their own safety, and that of the Bison. As in Yellowstone, people have made poor choices in approaching and sometimes petting the horses in Miller Creek. At least one child was hurt. These interactions, including feeding and even watering, pose a threat to the safety of both humans and horses. Even approaching these horses is a safety risk. Stallions are likely to become aggressive if someone approaches one of their offspring, not unlike a human parent.
Miller Creek Road, particularly from Horseshoe Loop to Trails End, is particularly winding. Many deer are killed in this stretch each year due to driver inattention. In this section, one horse was struck and had to be put down. Around November 2024, further down the road near Carla Jo, a horse was hit by a pickup truck. This horse survived; however, the pickup truck was reportedly totaled.
Some signage in and around the areas inhabited by these horses might help improve the safety and well-being of both horses and humans. Signs to inform people to observe the horses only and not interact. As well as road signs to alert drivers to watch out for horses, as well as other wildlife in proximity to the roadway.

The horses are more visible in highly populated areas because we are leaving them with nowhere else to go as the buildings and houses keep going up in Miller Creek. The public should treat them as wild animals and use caution and not approach them. We have recently seen children petting them and attempting to feed them - this is absolutely not helping them. They should be allowed to roam and we should act responsibly and watch for them as we do the ample other wildlife on our roads and in our yards.