Feral Horses in Miller Creek
Update 8/25: The county commissioners approved an updated resolution presented at their administrative meeting on Aug. 25. The meeting was recorded and is available on the County's Youtube channel.
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 EHV-1, 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.
Project Timeline
Commissioners will consider the final resolution at an administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Residents are welcome to attend this meeting in-person or virtually.
- In-person location: Second floor conference room, 199 W. Pine St., Missoula
- Virtual option: 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
Click here to view our F.A.Q. page to see answers to some common questions.
Let us know what you think by logging in or creating an account and submitting your comment below.
Update 8/25: The county commissioners approved an updated resolution presented at their administrative meeting on Aug. 25. The meeting was recorded and is available on the County's Youtube channel.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
-
Phone 406-258-3293
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
Good morning,
I live in upper Miller Creek and absolutely love the horses in our neighborhood.
Some thoughts regarding the management of the horses
1. Reduce the speed limit in the Miller Creek area
2. Come up with a management plan from the county.
Keep in mind the horses have been in our neighborhood long before the homes.
I personally have had the horses in my yard with no problems of any kind.
Again, I am in favor of managing them but keep them in our neighborhood
John G
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
The horses deserve their own management initiative that allows them to stay where they are. We need basic management. We need disposal if one gets hit by a car. We need mercy euthanization if one gets its leg broken. We need trained intervention if a horse becomes territorial in an area where there are people or children. It's not that complicated. Almost everyone wants the horses to stay in Miller Creek.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
PLEASE.... Leave the horses alone. Residents should be greatful there horses and not the occasional grizzly we deal with in Clinton
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
I support the horses being 'managed' as any other wildlife population in Missoula County. I don't like having deer eat everything in my garden so I built a fence. Likewise, if Miller Creek residents don't want horses in their yard they can build a fence. Don't let your kids approach any wild animal. Reduce the speed limit and add signage in areas where the houses frequent. That being said, I support having a horse management group. If there comes a time when the heard becomes too large, I would support selling some of the horses so that the grasslands do not become over-grazed.
The horses are one of the most special things about living in the Miller Creek area. It is thrilling to see them! I think the community would be devastated if they were to be removed. I think Fish and Wildlife should take them under their jurisdiction to be the contact for issues that arise with the horses. I think there should be warning signs placed along Lower Miller Creek Rd. And the speedlimit should be reduced or speed tables should be added.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
As far as I am concerned, the horses should be left alone. As long as we treat them as wild animals, they do little of no harm to our properties, animals, or people. They are fun to watch just like the elk and deer that roam here. Teach your children to keep their distance and enjoy a piece of wild Montana. People in Miller Creek should use their energy to start asking questions about what Bonneville Power and NW Energy has been and will be doing to the neighborhood. The newly built NW Energy power station has ruined beautiful vistas, added noise, and reduced property values. Bonneville Power is coming next with a large transmission station that should spoil more views and create more disruption. Rural peace and quiet? I don't think so. Could this all be a byproduct of building more data centers in the future? Whatever it is, this power company action certainly has screwed up our rural Miller Creek environment.
Removed by moderator.