Albino horse shot to death near Butte

BUTTE — Police suspect a confused hunter might have shot and killed an albino quarter horse near Butte.

Butte-Silver Bow Undersheriff George Skuletich said the horse, which was worth about $5,000, died after a “kill shot” with a high-powered rifle struck its heart.

“It could have been a hunting accident. Some sort of mistake,” Skuletich said.

The horse’s owner found the animal dead in its corral along Moulton Reservoir Road on Sunday morning, and police suspect the shooting occurred sometime over the weekend.

Police do not believe the shooting was intentional.

The owner of the horse told officers he heard shots fired throughout the weekend, but that is normal during hunting season.