What to do about Missoula’s feral horses?

What should be done to help manage dozens of horses roaming the Miller Creek area on the south end of Missoula? That’s the question Missoula County is contemplating, along with plenty of public opinions about the animals. 

On June 11, the Missoula County commissioners held a public hearing on a proposal outlining a process for capturing and placing horses in the event of conflicts with people. Most residents who commented during the meeting said the horses should be left alone.  

“The goal is not for the removal of horses,” said Chris Lounsbury, the county’s chief administrative officer, during the meeting. “No one is suggesting that 60 to 100 horses from this area be taken out of the area, but it is to make sure private property rights are respected, public safety is respected and the horses’ safety is also respected.”

The horses have been in the area since the early 1900s, with about 60 to 100 horses living south of Miller Creek along the Sapphire Mountains, Lounsbury said. A group of horses has repeatedly entered the Miller Creek neighborhood, which has become more densely developed over the years, he said. The horses are mostly roaming on private property. 

The horses are considered “feral” rather than “wild” because they are descended from domesticated horses that were turned loose and grew naturally in the area, Lounsbury said. State law puts the county commissioners largely in charge of dealing with feral or abandoned horses, along with the state Department of Livestock, he said. 

Last fall, some community members requested the county help manage the herd after a vehicle accident led to one horse being put down, as well as other incidents, Lounsbury said. Horses can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and create significant hazards on roads, he said. The feral horses can potentially bite or kick people or animals, transmit diseases to domestic horses and damage private property, Lounsbury said. 

The proposed resolution would clarify the herd’s legal status as “abandoned horses,” establish a process for capture by private landowners that includes a state Department of Livestock inspection and allow placement through nonprofits, private landowners or the state. Lounsbury said the resolution is a first draft that will change based on public comment, but must stay within the bounds of state law. 

“We want this plan to look like Missoula County, not something that is cookie-cutter or came from someplace else and to address the real issues that have been brought forward by the public,” he said. 

For months, the topic of the horses and potential county action has generated dozens of comments on the county’s webpage and social media. During the June 11 meeting, more than 20 people provided often emotional comments about the horses and the proposal. Many neighborhood residents advocated for leaving the horses alone. Some said humans are to blame for conflicts and safety issues and suggested putting up signs and educating neighbors. 

Darren Brady said he encounters the horses on average once a week while walking his dog, and they have never acted aggressively. 

“I love their presence and think they make just a magical addition to our neighborhood,” he said. 

Resident Nan Condit said she witnessed a car accident involving a horse in September 2025 and is concerned about horses getting onto Highway 93. 

“This is tough,” she said. “I think these horses need a place up there, but we also need to figure out a process because this will happen again, and a person will get killed or another horse will die.” 

The county will continue to take public comment on the proposal online or via email for at least four weeks and will hold another hearing July 23. A group of area residents is holding a community meeting about the horses at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, in the Cooper Room in the Missoula Public Library.