Miller Creek hearing draws crowd over wild horses' future

Missoula, Mont. — A packed public hearing in the Miller Creek area brought out strong opinions about what should happen next with feral horses that many residents said they want to keep on the landscape.

The hearing focused on more than the horses themselves. People spoke about public safety, who has authority over the animals and what role local government should play moving forward.

More than 50 people signed up to speak. Many of them supported keeping the horses in the area while also addressing concerns tied to them.

Those concerns included vehicle collisions, disease transmission and legal authority over the animals. Under Montana law, the horses are considered abandoned livestock rather than wildlife.

One North Creek resident said the discussion should center on a humane path forward.

"You know, and having watched a horse be hit and, have to be euthanized, that was pretty traumatizing and really, I think it's perpetuated much of this conversation is happening now because it won't be, it won't be the last time. So, we have to come to some sort of solution to, to manage these horses humanely. None of us want to see them, you know, and go away. We don't want to see them go to slaughter," Nan Condit said.

County commissioners had not made a decision on next steps. The hearing was meant to collect information and public feedback as the conversation continued.

The turnout made clear that people in the Missoula area care deeply about the future of the Miller Creek horses.