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 open house highlighting the recommendations and providing residents with a chance to bring any questions or concerns to staff. The County is looking to hold the open house sometime in February or early March. Many considerations go into planning a public event, including participant schedules and venue availability.
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
You might connect with the town of Ruidoso, NM who has a herd of feral horses who have lived there for years. They might have some advice and insight.
Leave the horses alone, they have roamed around before a lot of people were in this area. we have deer and skunks. raccoons. Foxes, Bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and many other animals that come through Miller Creek. Why are these animals needing to be controlled as well? The animals have lived and died here for a long time, maybe even before you were born. Leave the horses and all the other animals alone, or move somewhere else. Please
The horses are awesome and a unique part of living in Miller Creek. Why would the county waste money studying what to do. Leave the horses alone, and save the tax dollars spent on this unnecessary study.
The folks who actually lived in Miller Creek for decades are saying the obvious: leave the wild horses alone. They’ve been thriving without your “expert” intervention for years. Horse owners may know how to saddle up, but that doesn’t mean they’re qualified to dictate what happens with wild or feral horses. The real issue? A handful of people who can’t grasp boundaries or basic parenting, and somehow that means we should evict the horses? Brilliant idea. Let’s punish the animals for human incompetence. Maybe next we’ll ban trees because someone tripped over a root. Here’s a thought: stop trying to fix what isn’t broken and listen to the people who actually know what they’re talking about.
leave the horses alone they are happy and healthy! they are healthy where as if you catch and move them there is potential for them to not go to a good place. they have been there for so many years. leave them be!
They haven’t hurt anyone and they’ve been around WAY before any of these new developments were. Leave em be.
Let them be, they were their first we just happen to take their land
Leave them alone. Otherwise just pave the entire county over and shoot all the wild animals so no one is inconvenienced. Spend your time solving traffic and budget issues that actually matter!
I appreciate Missoula County communicating openly about the Miller Creek horses. I’ve lived here for seven years, and these horses have wandered through my yard more than once. I have three kids, and we’ve always felt completely safe around them. For many of us, they’re not a nuisance, they’re a unique part of what makes this part of Missoula feel like Missoula.
I understand the concerns around safety and habituation, but removing the horses feels like the most extreme option, not the starting point. Before we talk about getting rid of them, we should be discussing mitigation, education, traffic-calming, and partnerships with wildlife and equine experts who can help the County manage them humanely while allowing them to remain part of the landscape.
Missoula has always balanced growth with preserving the character of this place. These horses are part of that character. I hope the County’s upcoming process includes real community input, transparent options, and a priority on non-removal solutions that respect both resident safety and the animals’ long-standing place in our neighborhoods.
Let them be.
The deer are WAY bigger of. Problem. Leave them alone. They aren’t hurting anything. They are on our property 50% of the time in the summer. Does it suck to clean up the poop or replace a sprinkler if they damage one - yes. But they are fine. Why does the County think they need to control everything, it’s getting ridiculous!
Leave them alone. They are not a problem. They are part of living in Montana.
Been there for FIFTY PLUS years! And SUDDENLY, this is an issue? STOP letting the FEW determine what the MAJORITY are fine with! It's 100% OUTSIDERS complaining about this! Us LOCALS are tired of decisions like this being made by OUTSIDERS
Given the multitude of issues in Missoula County I believe our city and county government representatives have much more pressing matters than sorting out how to manage a dozen horses roaming Miller Creek. Please…focus on the ‘feral’ homeless transient population, our drug infested neighborhoods, affordable housing, reducing taxes, the list goes on and on. These horses have got to be near the bottom of the priority list when it comes to governing Missoula County.
I’m a 20+ year resident of Missoula and have lived in the Lower Miller Creek neighborhood for 8 years. My family didn’t even know the horses existed until the last 2-3 years when they remarkably showed up in our neighborhood. Since then we’ve encountered the horses a handful of times and our family values every experience with them. I would love to hear feedback from Miller Creek residents because I promise you the vast majority of us believe the wild horses belong in our neighborhood just as much as those of us that have chosen to live here.
Post signs to create awareness. Inform the public to keep their distance. But let’s not continue California-izing the state of Montana or city of Missoula with unnecessary government intervention where it’s not needed.
#saveourmillercreekhorses
For years, I've been witness to the roundups by the BLM. Many horses are injured, mares and their foals separated, and many foals dying. After the horses have been corralled, many are transported to the kill pens, waiting for the trailers to take them to slaughter.
Leave the damn horses alone! Please!
These are wild horses, not feral. They do not deserve unfair treatment just because someone decided to build cookie cutter suburban neighborhoods in their ranging area. They are beautiful and a magic part of being a Miller Creek resident. Teach your children that like all things wild, stay away and do not pet, feed or mess with them. The driver who hit the horse was speeding. These animals are not like deer, darting out in from the waist high grass. They are slower, bigger animals. It is not hard to see them. Besides, anyone going over 35 in Miller Creek is asking for it. Just put up signs .
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.