Wild Horse Island
  Wild Horse Island Wild Horse Island in Montana | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Flathead Lake |
| Administration | |
United States | |
Wild Horse Island is the largest island on Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Montana.[3] For centuries, the Salish-Kootenai used the island, approximately 2,164 acres (876 ha) in size,[1][4][5] in order to pasture horses and keep them from being stolen by other tribes.
Protected as a state park since 1978, the island near Big Arm Bay is home to abundant wildlife including bighorn sheep, mule deer, waterfowl, bald eagles. As of 2013[update], the wild horse population was five mares and one gelding.[5] Access is by boat only and for day–use only. It is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and lies within both the Flathead Indian Reservation and Lake County, Montana. There are 56 private lots on the island,[1] about an acre (0.4 ha) each. The highest point is at 3,749 feet (1,143 m),[2] which is 853 feet (260 m) above the island's shores.[2]
References
- ^ a b c "Wild Horse Island State Park". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
Although 56 privately owned parcels still exist along the shore areas, most of the island (2,163 acres [875 ha]) is now a state park.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Wild Horse Island High Point, Montana". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Flathead Lake". Montana Office of Tourism. Archived from the original on 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles [520 km2] of water and 185 miles [298 km] of shoreline.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Philley, M. Peter; McCool, Stephen F. (1978). Wild Horse Island Recreation Study. p. 1. OCLC 884564441. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
The Island, comprising 2,165.09 acres [876.18 ha], is in Lake County, Montana, and also within the boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation.
- ^ a b Scott, Tristan (2013-04-23). "Oldest horse on Flathead's Wild Horse Island dies". Missoulian. Missoula. Archived from the original on 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
The old horse's death leaves five mares and one gelding, a population that still outweighs what is technically allowed by Wild Horse Island State Park's management plan – a maximum of five wild horses to run free on the island's 2,164 acres [876 ha].
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Further reading
- McCurdy, Edward B. (1975). Wild Horse Island, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Polson, Montana: Treasure State Publishing Company. ASIN B000730F64. OCLC 41721811.
External links
- "Wild Horse Island". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Archived from the original on 2015-07-28. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "Wild Horse Island topographical map" (PDF). 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
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