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Update 5/27/2026:
The county commissioners will open a hearing on a resolution related to the feral horses during their public hearing meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11. The hearing is expected to be open for at least 30 days.
The meeting agenda and related documents will be available the prior Friday at missoula.co/bccmeetings. The public is encouraged to provide public comment at the meeting or by using the comment tool on this page.
County commissioners’ public hearing meeting: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11.
In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room
Virtualoption: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.
Project Background
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 discussed the following considerations:
History & Biology
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.
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.
Update 5/27/2026:
The county commissioners will open a hearing on a resolution related to the feral horses during their public hearing meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11. The hearing is expected to be open for at least 30 days.
The meeting agenda and related documents will be available the prior Friday at missoula.co/bccmeetings. The public is encouraged to provide public comment at the meeting or by using the comment tool on this page.
County commissioners’ public hearing meeting: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11.
In-person location: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula County Courthouse Annex, Sophie Moiese Room
Virtualoption: Residents can attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the call on your phone, call 406-272-4824, Conference ID 467 457 758#. To join the meeting on your device, follow the links on the agenda that will be published at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.
Project Background
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 discussed the following considerations:
History & Biology
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.
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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.
Charlotte
6 months ago
I believe the horses should be left alone. If anything, there should be protections put in place and the herd should be managed so the may do not continue to reproduce. I do not believe that these animals should be euthanized and that is absolutely cruel. If the decision is made to remove the horses, they should be rounded up and allow the public an opportunity to adopt them. I’d way rather see these horses protected than removed and euthanized.
A. Morgan
6 months ago
The horses are at home here please leave them be. There is no sign of disease.
Debbie W
6 months ago
Leave them alone! The only thing that the county needs to improve on is having a vet on call if one of the horses gets injured or sick or needs help giving birthl
KMI
6 months ago
Removed by moderator.
KMI
6 months ago
Removed by moderator.
KMI
6 months ago
Removed by moderator.
KMI
6 months ago
Removed by moderator.
KMI
6 months ago
I am Montana born and raised on a farm/ranch. Horses are livestock, formidable and sizeable animals that pose a danger to residential areas if untamed and roaming free. While I love to see a horse, and they are beautiful, they do not belong loose, wild, and in our yards and parks. They pose a danger to traffic, to local children, local dogs/pets, and they destroy our landscaping (mandated by our HOA, but indefensible against a grazing herd). Feral livestock, untamable as adults, are a safety issue. As much as I hate the thought, they should be caught, and by necessity put down. If there are yearlings or foals, they might be domesticated by a dedicated and skilled horseman, if any were willing to take them. It was a mistake from the beginning for these animals to be abandoned to a feral life. Their lives are harsh and full of danger. People might enjoy seeing them, but that little bit of pleasure overlooks the pitiable lives they are leading in the wild on their own without shelter or care and ignores the basic common sense that any rural community has. Livestock on the loose is a problem.
Pearl In Montana
6 months ago
To address our concerns about protecting feral horses, let's break down the relevant laws and potential approaches.
Montana law (MCA Title 81, Chapter 4, Part 5) regulates wild buffalo and wild horses, considering them wildlife. However, feral horses, descended from domesticated horses, might not be explicitly protected under current laws.
The federal Wild Horses and Burros Protection Act focuses on managing wild horses and burros on public lands, primarily applying to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands.
To strengthen protections for feral horses, consider advocating for legislative changes or clarifications that explicitly include feral horses under wildlife protection laws. This could involve: - Defining feral horses as protected wildlife - Establishing management plans for feral horse populations. What we our attempting to do now. Please get on board because there could be 5 landowners requesting a roundup or worse. - Collaborating with wildlife agencies and advocacy groups
Consulting with local wildlife experts, attorneys, or advocacy groups familiar with Montana laws and feral horse management might provide more tailored guidance. There has got to be a win win solution. I don't want to loose these horses. I love these horses. It's so cold today and they are outside. They are tough no doubt. Everyone needs guidance and management at times in life even the wild/feral horses. I think the deer do far more damage to cars and land than the horses.
Tammy S
6 months ago
To address our concerns about protecting feral horses, let's break down the relevant laws and potential approaches.
Montana law (MCA Title 81, Chapter 4, Part 5) regulates wild buffalo and wild horses, considering them wildlife. However, feral horses, descended from domesticated horses, might not be explicitly protected under current laws.
The federal Wild Horses and Burros Protection Act focuses on managing wild horses and burros on public lands, primarily applying to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands.
To strengthen protections for feral horses, consider advocating for legislative changes or clarifications that explicitly include feral horses under wildlife protection laws. This could involve: - Defining feral horses as protected wildlife - Establishing management plans for feral horse populations. What we our attempting to do now. Please get on board because there could be 5 landowners requesting a roundup or worse. - Collaborating with wildlife agencies and advocacy groups
Consulting with local wildlife experts, attorneys, or advocacy groups familiar with Montana laws and feral horse management might provide more tailored guidance. There has got to be a win win solution. I don't want to loose these horses. I love these horses. It's so cold today and they are outside. They are tough no doubt. Everyone needs guidance and management at times in life even the wild/feral horses. I think the deer are more destructive to land and cars than the horses.
Tammy S
6 months ago
The horses should be left to roam. They have a huge history there. Place signs for people to recognize them it would take nothing to do so. Why take away another part of Missoula natural history?
Butterflyspirit
6 months ago
I recognize that horses are pretty and people enjoy seeing them. I am also familiar with the major ecological problems that uncontrolled and unmanaged feral horses continue to cause across the West. We don’t want to wait until we reach a tipping point in Missoula County. Feral horses have no natural predators and, if left unchecked, are harmful to native vegetation, native wildlife, and water quality. If their numbers are allowed to continue to escalate in the Miller Creek area, they will become a bigger problem that is even more difficult to address at a later date. I would be fine with removing them entirely, but I doubt that is politically attainable. I encourage you to work with the public and appropriate state and federal agencies to create and implement a management plan to reduce feral horse numbers to appropriate levels and to manage populations at that level. It’d allow local area residents to continue to enjoy seeing them, while keeping their numbers in line with what natural habitats can support. Thanks for your consideration and for your service on behalf of Missoula County.
JW
6 months ago
I hope that the horses are left alone and allowed to wonder like they have since the 1970's. We have more of deer problem then a horse problem. It gives many people great joy to see them. Like any wild animal they should not be approached or fed. The man who totaled his truck hitting the gray horse on Upper Miller Creek had to be driving more than the posted speed limit of 35. Educate your kids on admiring from a distance and hopefully we can continue to enjoy them trotting through the neighborhood.
Brigette Dawson
6 months ago
Please leave the horses alone They are beautiful and majestic and belong in their native area Not sure why the sudden up roar We should be focused on the unhealthy deer in our neighborhood
goldie
6 months ago
I think that the feral horses up Miller Creek should be allowed to stay, and I think a concerted effort should be made to educate the public about their presence both through signage and public meetings. It wouldn't hurt to lower the speed on Upper and Lower Miller Creek roads to 30mph given the incredibly increased growth in this area.
Kerry Foresman
6 months ago
Two opinions here: 1-Montana should be left alone. To be the “last best place,” it has to be left alone. People need to be educated that we are not going to change it to fit their needs/wants. The transplants need to change not Montana. Leave the wildlife along and assign someone to assist with the feral horses.
2-Second opinion-Since we have leaders that are dead set on destroying “the last best place” with their overactive money hungry appetites, all that is and was that made Montana a state that others longed to visit will be but a memory. If our towns become cities, we will no longer be special. We will be like everyone else. If that’s the direction we are going then round them up and take them to glue factory. You don’t care anyway.
Hotwater
6 months ago
I live in upper Miller Creek and thoroughly enjoy seeing the horses come through the neighborhood. We never approach them, always give them plenty of space, and do not feed or water them. We understand they are feral animals. If someone has been injured by one of these majestic animals, it is sure due to human ignorance. Yes, having a heard of horses clomp through your yard can do some damage, but it's typically minimal and easily repaired. The tons of deer that run through here leave more waste, do more damage to flower beds and gardens than the horses do. We've watched several colts be born into 2-3 herds of horses, observed them napping on our lawn, visiting tamed horses at the corral - They are beautiful! If anything were to be done, perhaps a well equipped and well trained person could somehow separate the colts from the herd and tame/train them for work or riding .....otherwise LEAVE THEM ALONE! They were here before any of these houses or people. If you want a perfectly manicured lawn and zero wildlife - move to a condo by the mall.
JSQ
6 months ago
I’d like to see them left alone sure push them back out of your yard. Don’t feed her water them. They aren’t pets. Watch them from the Ridgeline and enjoy them like you would any other wildlife in Montana be respectful of them. So that we may enjoy them in the future. Keep your children a safe distance away as with any wildlife that your responsibility same with your dogs or any other pet. Drive slower so that you don’t encounter an accident with one and that goes for deer or elk or any other wildlife roaming in the area. It’s for your safety as well as theirs that I say that! You move to a state where we enjoy nature of all kinds, whether it be wildlife or land, nature hikes, or just looking at the mountains, sometimes taking a drive in them! It does seem like those new people that are moving here are hell-bent on destroying everything that is good about our area. They just want to develop and grow so that their greed gets fed. They have increased all that is bad in our area from traffic to housing cost to rent pricing application fees so much… But if only the mayor would actually protect the citizens of Missoula, maybe none of this would be even a question or a problem.
Grera
6 months ago
We love seeing the horses. They roam quietly through the neighborhoods.
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.
I believe the horses should be left alone. If anything, there should be protections put in place and the herd should be managed so the may do not continue to reproduce. I do not believe that these animals should be euthanized and that is absolutely cruel. If the decision is made to remove the horses, they should be rounded up and allow the public an opportunity to adopt them. I’d way rather see these horses protected than removed and euthanized.
The horses are at home here please leave them be. There is no sign of disease.
Leave them alone! The only thing that the county needs to improve on is having a vet on call if one of the horses gets injured or sick or needs help giving birthl
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
I am Montana born and raised on a farm/ranch. Horses are livestock, formidable and sizeable animals that pose a danger to residential areas if untamed and roaming free. While I love to see a horse, and they are beautiful, they do not belong loose, wild, and in our yards and parks. They pose a danger to traffic, to local children, local dogs/pets, and they destroy our landscaping (mandated by our HOA, but indefensible against a grazing herd).
Feral livestock, untamable as adults, are a safety issue. As much as I hate the thought, they should be caught, and by necessity put down. If there are yearlings or foals, they might be domesticated by a dedicated and skilled horseman, if any were willing to take them.
It was a mistake from the beginning for these animals to be abandoned to a feral life. Their lives are harsh and full of danger. People might enjoy seeing them, but that little bit of pleasure overlooks the pitiable lives they are leading in the wild on their own without shelter or care and ignores the basic common sense that any rural community has.
Livestock on the loose is a problem.
To address our concerns about protecting feral horses, let's break down the relevant laws and potential approaches.
Montana law (MCA Title 81, Chapter 4, Part 5) regulates wild buffalo and wild horses, considering them wildlife. However, feral horses, descended from domesticated horses, might not be explicitly protected under current laws.
The federal Wild Horses and Burros Protection Act focuses on managing wild horses and burros on public lands, primarily applying to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands.
To strengthen protections for feral horses, consider advocating for legislative changes or clarifications that explicitly include feral horses under wildlife protection laws. This could involve:
- Defining feral horses as protected wildlife
- Establishing management plans for feral horse populations. What we our attempting to do now. Please get on board because there could be 5 landowners requesting a roundup or worse.
- Collaborating with wildlife agencies and advocacy groups
Consulting with local wildlife experts, attorneys, or advocacy groups familiar with Montana laws and feral horse management might provide more tailored guidance. There has got to be a win win solution. I don't want to loose these horses. I love these horses. It's so cold today and they are outside. They are tough no doubt. Everyone needs guidance and management at times in life even the wild/feral horses. I think the deer do far more damage to cars and land than the horses.
To address our concerns about protecting feral horses, let's break down the relevant laws and potential approaches.
Montana law (MCA Title 81, Chapter 4, Part 5) regulates wild buffalo and wild horses, considering them wildlife. However, feral horses, descended from domesticated horses, might not be explicitly protected under current laws.
The federal Wild Horses and Burros Protection Act focuses on managing wild horses and burros on public lands, primarily applying to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands.
To strengthen protections for feral horses, consider advocating for legislative changes or clarifications that explicitly include feral horses under wildlife protection laws. This could involve:
- Defining feral horses as protected wildlife
- Establishing management plans for feral horse populations. What we our attempting to do now. Please get on board because there could be 5 landowners requesting a roundup or worse.
- Collaborating with wildlife agencies and advocacy groups
Consulting with local wildlife experts, attorneys, or advocacy groups familiar with Montana laws and feral horse management might provide more tailored guidance. There has got to be a win win solution. I don't want to loose these horses. I love these horses. It's so cold today and they are outside. They are tough no doubt. Everyone needs guidance and management at times in life even the wild/feral horses. I think the deer are more destructive to land and cars than the horses.
The horses should be left to roam. They have a huge history there. Place signs for people to recognize them it would take nothing to do so. Why take away another part of Missoula natural history?
I recognize that horses are pretty and people enjoy seeing them. I am also familiar with the major ecological problems that uncontrolled and unmanaged feral horses continue to cause across the West. We don’t want to wait until we reach a tipping point in Missoula County. Feral horses have no natural predators and, if left unchecked, are harmful to native vegetation, native wildlife, and water quality. If their numbers are allowed to continue to escalate in the Miller Creek area, they will become a bigger problem that is even more difficult to address at a later date. I would be fine with removing them entirely, but I doubt that is politically attainable. I encourage you to work with the public and appropriate state and federal agencies to create and implement a management plan to reduce feral horse numbers to appropriate levels and to manage populations at that level. It’d allow local area residents to continue to enjoy seeing them, while keeping their numbers in line with what natural habitats can support. Thanks for your consideration and for your service on behalf of Missoula County.
I hope that the horses are left alone and allowed to wonder like they have since the 1970's. We have more of deer problem then a horse problem. It gives many people great joy to see them. Like any wild animal they should not be approached or fed. The man who totaled his truck hitting the gray horse on Upper Miller Creek had to be driving more than the posted speed limit of 35. Educate your kids on admiring from a distance and hopefully we can continue to enjoy them trotting through the neighborhood.
Please leave the horses alone
They are beautiful and majestic and belong in their native area
Not sure why the sudden up roar
We should be focused on the unhealthy deer in our neighborhood
I think that the feral horses up Miller Creek should be allowed to stay, and I think a concerted effort should be made to educate the public about their presence both through signage and public meetings. It wouldn't hurt to lower the speed on Upper and Lower Miller Creek roads to 30mph given the incredibly increased growth in this area.
Two opinions here:
1-Montana should be left alone. To be the “last best place,” it has to be left alone. People need to be educated that we are not going to change it to fit their needs/wants. The transplants need to change not Montana. Leave the wildlife along and assign someone to assist with the feral horses.
2-Second opinion-Since we have leaders that are dead set on destroying “the last best place” with their overactive money hungry appetites, all that is and was that made Montana a state that others longed to visit will be but a memory. If our towns become cities, we will no longer be special. We will be like everyone else. If that’s the direction we are going then round them up and take them to glue factory. You don’t care anyway.
I live in upper Miller Creek and thoroughly enjoy seeing the horses come through the neighborhood. We never approach them, always give them plenty of space, and do not feed or water them. We understand they are feral animals. If someone has been injured by one of these majestic animals, it is sure due to human ignorance. Yes, having a heard of horses clomp through your yard can do some damage, but it's typically minimal and easily repaired. The tons of deer that run through here leave more waste, do more damage to flower beds and gardens than the horses do. We've watched several colts be born into 2-3 herds of horses, observed them napping on our lawn, visiting tamed horses at the corral - They are beautiful! If anything were to be done, perhaps a well equipped and well trained person could somehow separate the colts from the herd and tame/train them for work or riding .....otherwise LEAVE THEM ALONE! They were here before any of these houses or people. If you want a perfectly manicured lawn and zero wildlife - move to a condo by the mall.
I’d like to see them left alone sure push them back out of your yard. Don’t feed her water them. They aren’t pets. Watch them from the Ridgeline and enjoy them like you would any other wildlife in Montana be respectful of them. So that we may enjoy them in the future. Keep your children a safe distance away as with any wildlife that your responsibility same with your dogs or any other pet. Drive slower so that you don’t encounter an accident with one and that goes for deer or elk or any other wildlife roaming in the area. It’s for your safety as well as theirs that I say that! You move to a state where we enjoy nature of all kinds, whether it be wildlife or land, nature hikes, or just looking at the mountains, sometimes taking a drive in them! It does seem like those new people that are moving here are hell-bent on destroying everything that is good about our area. They just want to develop and grow so that their greed gets fed. They have increased all that is bad in our area from traffic to housing cost to rent pricing application fees so much… But if only the mayor would actually protect the citizens of Missoula, maybe none of this would be even a question or a problem.
We love seeing the horses. They roam quietly through the neighborhoods.