Feral Horses in Miller Creek

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
• 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.

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.
• 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.