Mark Heinz
Mark Heinz covers the outdoors and wildlife for Cowboy State Daily.
He previously worked or freelanced for numerous newspapers and magazines across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, covering all manner of news and feature stories. He has a strong background in topics related to wildlife, hunting, and wildlands conservation. He's written extensively since the 1990s about the controversies surrounding wolves, grizzly bears and mustangs.
He also enjoys people-centric stories with quirky edge of humor and has written several such pieces for Cowboy State Daily.
Mark lives in Laramie with his wife, Kendy, and the youngest of their five children.
Latest from Mark Heinz
Grizzly Habitat In Yellowstone Ecosystem Is Filling Up Fast, Biologist Says
Going just by the numbers, the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is more than double the 500 bears designated as “recovered,” a top bear biologist told the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzJuly 16, 2024
Wyoming, Utah Call For No Limits On Flaming Gorge Lake Trout
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday voted to eliminate the catch limit on most lake trout at Flaming Gorge Reservoir because they are diminishing the kokanee salmon population.
Mark HeinzJuly 16, 2024
As Grizzlies Fill In Corners Of Montana, Are They Closer To Mingling With Wyoming Bears?
Montana wildlife officials are telling people they should be prepared to run into grizzlies anywhere west of Billings – but it remains unclear whether a long expected mingling of Wyoming and Montana bears is imminent.
Mark HeinzJuly 15, 2024
Game Warden Involved In Wolf Torture Investigation Charged With DUI
Herbert “Bubba” Haley, one of the game wardens who investigated the capture, torture and killing of a wolf in Sublette County was charged with driving under the influence, according to court records.
Mark Heinz & Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2024
Rock Springs ‘Desert Rats’ Know Wyoming’s Adobe Town Better Than Anybody
Three friends from Rock Springs who call themselves the desert rats know Wyoming’s Adobe Town better than anybody. They’ve been exploring the huge, rugged expanses of southwest Wyoming for decades and say they’ve seen only a fraction of what’s out there.
Mark HeinzJuly 14, 2024
A New Hobby? Wyoming Scientists Looking For People To Go Out And Collect Ticks
For those who can stomach the task, Wyoming scientists need volunteers to go out and pick up ticks. “We need tick wranglers, please,” entomologist Mikenna Smith told Cowboy State Daily.
Mark HeinzJuly 14, 2024
Congress To Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Outlaw Killing Wildlife By Snowmobile
The high-profile case of a Wyoming wolf run down with a snowmobile, then tortured and killed, is now on the radar of Congress. A bipartisan bill called the Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons Act would ban the practice nationwide.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2024
Wyoming's Killpecker Sand Dunes: "Don't Drink The Water, It'll Kill Your Pecker"
The name for Wyoming’s famous Killpecker Sand Dunes is said to have originated with a soldier’s warning that the water there could have an undesirable effect upon a certain part of the male anatomy. Despite that side effect, it's a great place to visit.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2024
Traveling Wyoming: Adobe Town Is Like Another Planet In The Middle Of Nowhere
A visit to Adobe Town in southwest Wyoming’s Red Desert is like being on another planet. To get there, take the Point of Rocks exit off Interstate 80 west of Rock Springs, hit the gravel roads and keep going. And going and going.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2024
In Brief: Wildlife Groups Mad After Snubbed By Committee
Wildlife advocates said they were snubbed and not allowed to comment during a legislative meeting earlier this week. A co-chair of a Wyoming Legislature joint committee says it was just a technical glitch.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2024
Animal Activists Sue To Put Wolves Back On Endangered List In Wyoming
Environmental and animal welfare groups are suing to having wolves relisted as an endangered species in Wyoming. A retired federal wildlife manager in Cody says that probably won’t happen.
Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2024
Hunter Uses Handgun To Finish Off Angry, Charging 1,000-Pound Kodiak Bear
When Tyce Erickson was charged by an enraged 1,000-pound Kodiak bear, he dropped it with three shots from his Smith & Wesson handgun. He swears by the gun and told Cowboy State Daily he’ll pack it in Wyoming for his upcoming elk hunt.
Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2024
Ammo Vending Machines Are A Thing: Would They Work In Wyoming?
Folks in Alabama and Oklahoma can now buy ammunition from vending machines in grocery stores. Wyomingites might not be ready for such a thing, especially if it cuts into sales for small businesses.
Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2024
Wyoming Game Wardens Target Bear Breaking Into Cabins In Snowies
A cabin owner in the Snowy Range is hopeful that a bear that has been breaking into cabins will leave the area because if game wardens catch it, they'll likely have to kill it. "That's the policy because it's a danger to humans," he said.
Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2024
Jackson Council Passes Resolution Recognizing 'The Rights Of Nature’
A new resolution from the Jackson Town Council proclaims that nature has rights. But the town's ecosystem stewardship administrator said it's not legally binding and trees, soil and rivers won't have the same legal standing as humans.
Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2024
New Wyoming Game And Fish Director Announced On Friday, First Woman In Position
Gov. Mark Gordon announced Friday that Angi Bruce will be the new director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, She’s the first woman to head the agency and inherits a department that is financially stable but has plenty of challenges.
Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2024
Comedian Highlights The Differences Between Colorado And Wyoming On Fireworks
In Colorado, fireworks are limited to sparklers and that's about it. Cross the state line into Wyoming and almost anything goes. Comedian Taylor Calmus makes that distinction in a viral video he made showing the differences between the two states.
Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2024
In Brief: Pilot Accidentally Turns Off Fuel Switch, Flips Plane In Albany County
A pilot accidentally turned off the fuel switch mid-flight on his plane on Wednesday morning and crash landed in rural Albany County. He suffered minor injuries.
Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2024
Reporter’s Notebook: ‘Star Spangled Banner’ On A Chainsaw A CSD Tradition
What started out as a way for outdoors writer to annoy his neighbors has become a patriotic Cowboy State Daily tradition. Mark Heinz comes in with his 2024 chainsaw rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2024
Black Bears Moving Further East, Now Pushing To Black Hills & Northeast Wyoming
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department say there's been an uptick of black bear activity in northeast Wyoming. One bear that had been tagged in the Laramie Mountain Range had traveled more than 175 miles before it was shot near Newcastle.
Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2024
Like In Wyoming, Pelicans Gobble Down Prized Yellowstone Trout In Idaho
Much like what they've been doing at some premier trout fishing lakes west of Laramie, pelicans are eating up the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population at the Blackfoot Reservoir in Idaho. They have permission to haze and kill the pelicans too.
Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2024
Grizzly Baby Boom In Yellowstone: Unprecedented 18 Cubs In Park’s North Section
An area in northern Yellowstone National Park appears to be having a grizzly bear baby boom. Grizzly photographers, who have been in the area for decades, have counted an unprecedented 18 new cubs in a location where there’s usually fewer than a half-dozen.
Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2024
Wyoming Won't Be Ditching Traditional Fireworks For Drones On July 4
More cities -- such as Boulder, Colorado -- are ditching their traditional Fourth of July fireworks blowouts for elaborate, computer-choreographed drone light shows. Not in Wyoming though. We still like to watch stuff explode.
Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2024
Only Known Video Shows Rare White Bison’s First Moments; Hasn’t Been Seen Since
A retired biologist took the only known video of a rare white bison calf born in Yellowstone on June 4 and he shared it with Cowboy State Daily on Sunday. Nobody has seen the white bison since.
Mark HeinzJuly 01, 2024
Wild Horse Advocates Mad At Feds’ Plan To Cut Wyoming Herd From 3,000 To 300
The North Lander Mustang herd is one of Wyoming’s largest, with more than 3,000 horses. Starting Monday, the federal government will start reducing the herd by 90%, and horse advocates are incensed.
Mark HeinzJune 29, 2024
Gun Club Gets OK To Shoot Pelicans Eating All The Prized Trout In Wyoming Lake
Hungry pelicans had nearly picked clean 9-Mile Lake in southern Wyoming of its prized trout, so the gun club that owns the lake got permission to shoot some of them to bring the fishing back.
Mark HeinzJune 28, 2024
Wyoming Bristles At Surgeon General’s Claim Guns A Public Health Crisis
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared this week that gun violence is a public health crisis and called for an assault weapons ban. Wyoming gun owners bristled at the notion and said he doesn’t know what he’s talking about it.
Mark HeinzJune 28, 2024
Laramie Cemetery Warns Public About Aggressive Deer That Attacks Dogs
Warning signs at Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie are putting visitors and their canine companions on notice: There’s an aggressive deer hanging around and she is attacking people’s dogs.
Mark HeinzJune 27, 2024
Campbell, Park Counties Are Finalists For $10M Shooting Complex
Campbell County and Park County beat out seven other communities vying for a multi-million-dollar state shooting complex, it was announced Tuesday. Now one of them must beat the other.
Mark HeinzJune 27, 2024
Wyoming-Organized DC Rally Demands Ban On Running Down Wolves With Snowmobiles
While some in Wyoming defend running wolves and other predators down with snowmobiles, aka "wolf whacking," a group of Wyoming wildlife advocates rallied in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday demanding it be banned.
Mark HeinzJune 26, 2024
Once Legendary For Trout, Locals Say Pinedale’s Soda Lake Not Worth Fishing Now
Soda Lake, just northeast of Pinedale, used to be one of Wyoming’s most prized trout fishing spots. Then nearly all the fish died, and it’s not exactly clear why.
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2024
Running Predators Down With Snowmobiles Could Stay Legal In Wyoming
Despite outrage over a wolf being run down with a snowmobile in the infamous Daniel wolf torture incident, banning that practice in Wyoming doesn’t seem imminent. Some members of a legislative working group on Tuesday argued it should remain legal.
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2024
Black Bear Defending Cubs Chases Sheridan County Man Up Tree, Attacks Him
A black bear defending her cubs chased a Sheridan County man up a tree and attacked him Saturday, leaving him with undisclosed injuries. The bear had two young cubs-of-the-year with her and attacked the man in the North Fork of West Pass Creek.
Mark HeinzJune 24, 2024
Grizzly 399’s Huge Cub Could Avoid Trouble That Got 2022 Cub Killed
Of Grizzly 399’s 18 known cubs, 10 have died. Her latest cub, Spirit, has a better chance to survive, one wildlife photographer said, because 399 isn't taking him around settled areas.
Mark HeinzJune 24, 2024
Colorado Has A New Wolf Pup, Nobody Knows Yet If There’s A Whole Litter
Roughly six months after being reintroduced to Colorado, wolves have produced at least one confirmed pup. Although it is highly likely the pup is part of a larger litter, Colorado officials won't confirm any more.
Mark HeinzJune 23, 2024
Bam-Bam The Wyoming Bighorn Loved People, Peanut Butter And Ramming Cars
He’s been gone for more than a decade, but Wyomingites still fondly remember Bam-Bam, the peanut butter-loving, flower-devouring, car-ramming Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ram that ruled Sinks Canyon in the late 2000s.
Mark HeinzJune 23, 2024
Yellowstone Bears Can’t ‘Scratch Hind Ends’ Without Getting On Camera
Social media feeds are flooded with photos of Yellowstone bears, but it doesn’t mean there are more bears. It just means the park is packed with tourists, and the bears “can’t hardly scratch his hind end” without getting on camera.
Mark HeinzJune 23, 2024
Sportsman Outraged Over Littering Grand Teton River With Shotgun Targets
An angler on the Buffalo Fork River near Grand Teton National Park on Thursday was outraged to find someone had used the area for shotgun target practice, and left dozens of bright orange clay pigeons in the river. Plus, he said they were a terrible shot.
Mark HeinzJune 21, 2024
Donkey Named Diesel Living With California Elk Herd Was Never In Wyoming
It’s true that a donkey that’s gone viral named Diesel ran away from home to live with a wild elk herd in California. What’s not true despite numerous social media reports is that Diesel’s from Wyoming.
Mark HeinzJune 21, 2024
Moose Lucky Grizzly Chasing Him Near Wyoming State Line Wasn't Really Trying
A former Yellowstone bear biologist who caught video of a grizzly chasing a moose near the Wyoming state line said the moose was lucky the bear opted for a vegetarian option. Grizzlies usually, but not always, have an advantage over moose in a one-on-one fight.
Mark HeinzJune 20, 2024
Colorado Eliminates Over-The-Counter Archery Elk Tags For Non-Residents
Trying to lessen the numbers of hunters that flood Colorado every fall, the state has discontinued over-the-counter archery elk tags for non-residents. Colorado was known as the best last option for elk hunters who failed to draw elk tags anywhere else.
Mark HeinzJune 19, 2024
Wyoming Elk Poacher Nailed After Truck Gets Stuck And He Brags On Social Media
A Rawlins man might have thought he would get away with poaching a bull elk, until his truck got stuck. Then he posted photos of the elk and bragged about it on social media.
Mark HeinzJune 18, 2024
Family Says Its Ranch Near Wyoming State Line A ‘Grocery Store’ For Wolves
Many of the 24 cattle killed by wolves in Colorado since December have been on the Gittleson ranch just a few miles from the Wyoming state line. Since reintroduction of wolves in Colorado, the ranch has become a “grocery store” for them.
Mark HeinzJune 18, 2024
Texas Man Rescued After Trying Most Dangerous Rapid In River On "Walmart Raft"
A Texas man was rescued on Sunday after getting stranded on the Shoshone River. An expert kayaker from Cody, who rescued the man, said the Texan tried to "run the biggest rapid on the river during the highest water in a Walmart raft."
Mark HeinzJune 17, 2024
Southeast Wyoming Fishing Off To Slow Start But Will Change Soon
To put it bluntly, the fishing “sucks right now,” in southeast Wyoming, says Josh McPeak, a fishing guide with Four Seasons Anglers in Laramie. But the turnaround, he says, could come as early as this week.
Mark HeinzJune 16, 2024
There Are Plenty Of Coyotes And Wolves In Wyoming, So Why No Coywolves?
in the eastern United States, coyotes people encounter are likely to be coywolves, or coyote-wolf crossbreeds. But in Wyoming, wolves and coyotes tend to avoid each other and coywolves have not been documented.
Mark HeinzJune 16, 2024
It’s Mating Season, Which Means Bears Are Beating The Crap Out Of Each Other
When love is in the air among bears, it’s not exactly lovely. This is the time of year when male bears beat the crap out of each other, because it's mating season. That means bears in Wyoming and all over are fighting for access to females.
Mark HeinzJune 15, 2024
After State Kills 3 Wyoming Bighorn, Wildlife Researcher Questions Policy
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department killed three bighorn sheep that wandered into Sinks Canyon State Park out of concern for disease, but a local wildlife researcher questions the need for the killings.
Mark HeinzJune 15, 2024
Calif., Other States Still Grabbing For Wyoming’s Share Of Colorado River Water
Fighting between California and other states over Wyoming's share of water from the Colorado River, which is partly fed from Cowboy State sources, isn’t likely to be resolved anytime soon, a pair of experts say.
Mark HeinzJune 14, 2024
Video Captures Black Bear Chomping On Trail Camera On Wyoming - Montana Border
Steve and Nancy Cerroni set up trail cameras around the Pryor Mountain wild horse range near the Wyoming-Montana border to monitor mustangs. But a black bear stole the show Tuesday when it chomped on a local trail camera.
Mark HeinzJune 13, 2024
Park Service: Don’t Try That ‘Secret Route’ To Jackson, You’ll Get Stuck In Snow
The National Park Service on Thursday advised travelers not to try the "secret route" Cowboy State Daily wrote about on Wednesday. Reclamation Road, between Idaho and Jackson, will be snowbound at least through Monday. Even then, it’s not a great road to take.
Mark HeinzJune 13, 2024
Wyoming Gun Dealers: Don’t Lie Like Hunter Biden Because You’ll Get Caught
After President Biden’s son Hunter was convicted Tuesday of lying on the background check form for a firearms purchase, some Wyoming gun dealers say they’re not surprised, because that’s a stupid move and nearly impossible to get away with.
Mark HeinzJune 11, 2024
Observers Say Yellowstone’s White Bison Is the Real Deal, Plan Ceremony With Native Elders
Although Yellowstone officials have yet to confirm the birth of an extremely rare white bison calf in the park last week, observers say they've seen it recently and Native American elders are planning to celebrate its birth.
Mark HeinzJune 10, 2024
Park Rangers Rescue 8 When Raft Flips, Strands 8 Overnight On Snake River
Grand Teton park rangers rescued eight people stranded overnight Saturday from a section of the Snake River called “The Black Hole." A whitewater guide told Cowboy State Daily the area is known as a truly gnarly and dangerous stretch of river.
Mark HeinzJune 10, 2024
With So Much Fentanyl in Wyoming, Even Game Wardens Packing Narcan
Fentanyl has become such a problem in Wyoming’s war on illegal drugs that Wyoming Game and Fish Department game wardens will start carrying Narcan to treat overdoses.
Mark HeinzJune 09, 2024
Wyoming Has Two Of The Three Remaining Animal Shelter Gas Chambers In US
Two of the three gas chambers in the United States still used for euthanasia at animal shelters are in Wyoming, one in Green River and the other in Evanston. And those who say it’s a cruel and inhumane way to dispose of animals want the gas chambers shut down.
Mark HeinzJune 08, 2024
After Wastewater Discharge, E. Coli Found At Some Boysen Reservoir Sites
The Wyoming Dept of Environmental Quality on Friday said there’s an “elevated risk of illness” from E. coli contamination in Boysen State Park after wastewater was discharged from the town of Hudson into the Popo Agie River last month.
Mark HeinzJune 07, 2024
Deer 255, Wyoming’s Famous Record Long-Distance Doe, Dies In Red Desert
After trekking untold thousands of miles back and forth across Wyoming on record-setting migrations and gaining worldwide fame, Deer 255 has died. The deer met her end in the Red Desert, likely taken down by a mountain lion.
Mark HeinzJune 07, 2024
How Eating Porcupine Brains Can Save Your Life When Lost And Starving In Wyoming
“Rabbit starvation,” or protein poisoning, is a real risk for people trying to survive in the Wyoming wilderness by eating only the red meat of what they catch. One expert says eating the brains of porcupines could save your life.
Mark HeinzJune 07, 2024
Yellowstone Says Grizzly With Five Cubs The Most Ever Recorded In Park
A spokesperson for Yellowstone National Park on Thursday said since records have been kept in Yellowstone, this is the first time they've witnessed a grizzly with five cubs.
Mark HeinzJune 06, 2024
Idaho Wardens Kill Bear In Crowded Park; Is Region In For Another Busy Bear Year?
There was trouble with black bears all over the Rocky Mountain West last summer and this year is getting off to an early start. Idaho game agents on Sunday killed a bear in a crowded city park. It could be an indication that this summer could be another doozy.
Mark HeinzJune 06, 2024
Holy Cow! Yellowstone Grizzly Has Five Cubs, Topping Grizzly 399’s 2020 Quadruplets
Among grizzlies, twin cubs are somewhat common, triplets are rare and quadruplets rarer still. That’s why a Yellowstone tour guide on Wednesday was so surprised to see a grizzly with quintuplets — five cubs.
Mark HeinzJune 05, 2024
Rare Wild White Bison Born In Yellowstone, Photographer Gets Photos
A rare white bison calf was born late Tuesday in Yellowstone National Park. A wildlife photographer originally thought it was a coyote until she looked back and saw the calf. "It was amazing," she said.
Mark HeinzJune 05, 2024
Two Children Stomped, Injured By Elk In Estes Park, Colorado
In separate incidents less than a week apart, two children were injured by irate cow elk protecting their young in Estes Park, Colorado. The town is overtaken every spring and fall by a massive elk herd with Wyoming roots.
Mark HeinzJune 05, 2024
Would Hunting Grizzlies Make Bears Fear Humans More?
While everybody agrees that Wyoming’s grizzly bears are intelligent animals, there’s a growing debate in wildlife circles about whether that means hunting them would make the bears fear humans more.
Mark HeinzJune 04, 2024
Boysen Reservoir To Be Tested For E. Coli After Dump Of 210,000 Gallons Of Wastewater
A discharge of 210,000 gallons of wastewater Thursday or Friday from the Hudson, Wyoming, treatment lagoons into the Little Popo Agie River, prompted the state to plan E. coli testing at Boysen Reservoir.
Mark HeinzJune 04, 2024
Having Grizzlies For Neighbors Just A Fact Of Life Near Cody, Wyoming
As Wyoming’s grizzly population continues to grow, they’ve become common outside of Cody. Famed outdoors writer Jim Zumbo says it's no big deal and going to an ATM in Denver is riskier than having a grizzly for a neighbor.
Mark HeinzJune 01, 2024
Standoff Over Wolf Torture: Locals Block Motorcycle Rally From Daniel Bar
Friends and family of Daniel resident Cody Roberts, who gained international exposure for torturing a wolf, lined up trailers and vehicles on Sunday so motorcycle rally participants couldn't hold a presentation in front of the bar.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2024
Motorcycle Rally For Tortured Wolf Rolls Into Green River, Wyoming
A national motorcycle rally held to bring awareness to the wolf torture and killing in Sublette County arrived at the Harley Davidson dealership in Green River on Saturday. The rally concludes on Sunday in Daniel.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2024
As Wyoming Camping Season Kicks Off, Popular Snowy Range Road Remains Closed
Jurisdiction over Boswell Road, a popular public lands access in the Snowy Range Mountains, remains murky and the road is still officially closed to the public as camping season kicks off in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzMay 25, 2024
Blasting Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ Doesn’t Scare Colorado Bear Out Of Tree
“Black bears don’t mind Black Sabbath” a Colorado wildlife agent quipped after a failed attempt to haze a bear by blasting it with the legendary heavy metal band’s classic anthem “Iron Man.”
Mark HeinzMay 24, 2024
Alaska Man Killed By Moose After He Tried To Get Photos Of Calves
An Alaska man was killed by a momma moose Sunday when he got too close trying to photograph her newborn calves. One of Wyoming’s premier moose photographers says he knows firsthand that the huge animals are nothing to mess with.
Mark HeinzMay 23, 2024
Grand Teton Mauling Ends When Grizzly Chomps On Can Of Bear Spray
The man attacked and mauled by a grizzly in Grand Teton National Park on Sunday was amazingly lucky. During the attack, the grizzly chomped down on his can of bear spray, which exploded it into her face and immediately ended the ordeal.
Mark HeinzMay 22, 2024
National Motorcycle Rally For Tortured Wolf Raises $100K As It Closes In On Wyoming
The Harley-Davidson dealership in Green River will welcome a national motorcycle rally called 'Hogs For Hope' on Saturday in honor of the wolf that was tortured in February. The rally will end Sunday in Daniel. It’s raised $100,000 so far.
Mark HeinzMay 22, 2024
Grizzly Mauling Wasn't A Tag Team Onslaught, It Was Likely Momma Defending Cub
Although talk of a terrifying grizzly tag team duo circulated the Internet, park officials say Sunday's mauling of a Massachusetts man was likely a mother grizzly defending her cub. The man is still hospitalized in stable condition.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Green River High Seniors Put Googly Eyes On Everything In School, Including Urinals
It's that time of year where high school seniors everywhere pull a class prank. In Green River, students have put googly eyes on everything. When the principal was told there was a miniature video cam on a urinal, he was relieved to see it was just a googly eye.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Wolf From Well-Known Grand Teton Pack Struck, Killed By Vehicle
A mature male wolf from one of Grand Teton National Park’s well-known packs was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday, the Park Service confirmed Monday.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Windstorms Leave Wyoming Backcountry Trails A Mess Of Fallen Trees
On some of southeast Wyoming’s popular hiking and biking trails, a chainsaw — or at least an axe — might be standard equipment. Trees blown over by recent severe windstorms have turned trails into an absolute mess.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Out-Of-State Man Survives Attack By 2 Wyoming Grizzlies
An attack prompted by a “surprise encounter” with two grizzly bears Sunday in the Signal Mountain area of Grand Teton National Park left a 35-year-old man hospitalized in stable condition.
Mark HeinzMay 20, 2024
Many Washington State Locals Not Thrilled With Grizzly Reintroduction
Many locals in Washington State's North Cascades region aren't thrilled with the idea of grizzlies being reintroduced in the area. The grizzlies, some likely from Wyoming, could be helicoptered in as soon as this year.
Mark HeinzMay 19, 2024
Wyoming Man Vows To Dance At His Wedding Despite Serious Injuries From ATV Crash
Although he's hospitalized and still unable to move his arms, Cody's Skylar Peterson is vowing to dance with his future wife Sydnie at their wedding on August 10. Peterson was severely injured in an ATV crash earlier this month.
Mark HeinzMay 19, 2024
Yellowstone's 11-Year-Old 1-Eyed Wolf Just Had Another Litter Of Pups
Wolf 907F in Yellowstone has lived an unprecedented 11 years, which is more than three times the average lifespan of a wolf. Along the way, she's given birth to multiple litters and lost her left eye. And she just became a mom again.
Mark HeinzMay 18, 2024
Yellowstone Grizzlies Observed Farther East In Wyoming — And Earlier
Grizzly bears are getting more common in the lower elevations as they push east out of Yellowstone National Park toward Cody. A visitor caught video of a grizzly lumbering along the shore of Buffalo Bill Reservoir last week during a snow squall.
Mark HeinzMay 17, 2024
Angry Snowy Range Ranchers Cut Off From Longtime Summer Grazing Pastures
Property owners along a now-closed Boswell Road in southern Albany County, Wyoming, are angry they’ve been cut off from their land and can’t build their homes or drive cattle to their longtime summer grazing pastures.
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2024
No One Mauled When Grizzlies Come Close To Tourists At Old Faithful
A momma grizzly and two large cubs strolled through the Upper Geyser Basin near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday. This group of tourists was well-behaved. As no one tried to pet or saddle the bears, no one was mauled.
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2024
Wyoming Legislative Group Will Consider Response To Wolf Torture
Legislators agreed Wednesday to study possible reform of the state’s wildlife policy in light of the wolf torture earlier this year. But one lawmaker urged restraint so not to "accommodate out-of-state people who don’t have much common sense."
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2024
Outraged Citizens Demand Response To "Psychotic Behavior" Behind Wolf Torture
After testimony Tuesday with Wyoming legislators and wildlife officials, it seems likely a bill will be introduced next session in response to the torture of a wolf in Daniel. We need laws “against this psychotic behavior," one citizen said.
Mark HeinzMay 14, 2024
Popular Road In Snowy Range Closes And Nobody’s Sure Who Actually Controls It
Boswell Road is a popular route for outdoors enthusiasts in southeast Wyoming’s Snowy Range but sections of it are now closed. Nobody seems to know who has jurisdiction over the route -- including landowner and former Gov. Matt Mead.
Mark HeinzMay 14, 2024
Fearless Wyoming Grizzly Powers Through Rapids After Gorging On Carcass In River
Wildlife photographers witnessed the sheer power and strength of young grizzly on Friday. After feasting on a carcass in the middle of the Hoback River, he fearlessly plunged into the churning rapids and powered his way to the shore.
Mark HeinzMay 14, 2024
Wyoming’s Famous For Its Iconic Pronghorn — But Don’t Call Them Antelope
Step into wildlife biologist Rich Guenzel’s office and there will be no doubt about his passion for pronghorn -- an iconic Wyoming animal affectionately known as “speed goats." Just don't call them antelope, unless you're looking for a brawl...
Mark HeinzMay 12, 2024
Fishing Wyoming: All The Trout In Albany County's Meeboer Lake Are Dead — Again
For the second year in a row, all the trout in Meeboer Lake west of Laramie died over the winter. Last year, a failed aeration system was to blame, but this year it was from natural causes. The suckers, however, survived just fine.
Mark HeinzMay 11, 2024
Hunter Wants ‘Wyoming Solution’ To Any Reform That Comes From Wolf Torture
In response to the torture and killing of a wolf in Daniel, a hunter from Dubois says Wyomingites need to reform hunting and animal cruelty statutes themselves instead of waiting for outside groups and the federal government to force change.
Mark HeinzMay 10, 2024
Famous Dog Trainer Plans Texas-Wyoming Motorcycle Rally For Tortured Daniel Wolf
Jonas Black, a dog trainer with millions of followers on social media, is organizing a 1,300-mile motorcycle rally from Texas to Wyoming in honor of a wolf that was tortured and killed in Daniel. He will donate all funds from the rally to wildlife groups.
Mark HeinzMay 09, 2024
Wyoming Couple Donates $350,000 To Target Pronghorn Recovery After Massive Die-Off
Wyoming has an estimated 382,000 pronghorn, more than any other state. But they suffered mightily due to the winter of 2022-2023 and herds have not recovered. A Wyoming couple has donated $350,000 specifically to help pronghorn recovery.
Mark HeinzMay 09, 2024
Laramie City Council Kills 88-Unit Apartment Building In Historic Downtown
Citizens cheered on Tuesday night after the city council voted to kill a controversial five story, 88-unit apartment complex in downtown Laramie. One councilman said he "would be run out of town" if he had voted in favor of it.
Mark HeinzMay 08, 2024
Are 350 Wolves Enough For Wyoming? Depends On Who You Ask
With roughly 350 wolves calling Wyoming home, the state’s wolf population is at “healthy levels,” according to Wyoming Game and Fish and a livestock industry spokesman said the current wolf management plan is working.
Mark HeinzMay 07, 2024
Alice, Wyoming Bear Cub Rescued From Starvation, Ready To Come Home
An orphaned black bear cub in Teton County seemed almost certain to starve to death last winter, but after several months at an Idaho bear rescue facility, she’s almost ready to come home to Wyoming.
Mark HeinzMay 07, 2024
Airdropping Grizzlies: When Bears Get Reintroduced To Cascades, They'll Be Helicoptered In
When grizzlies are reintroduced to the Cascades, they will likely be airdropped. That doesn't mean huge, roaring bears will be parachuting from the sky, unfortunately. But the process is still pretty cool.
Mark HeinzMay 05, 2024
Barrasso Joins Boebert In Effort To Delist Wolves In Lower 48
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso has joined efforts by Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, to get wolves delisted from federal protection in all of the Lower 48 states. Political observers say it has almost no chance.
Mark HeinzMay 03, 2024
Locals Say 88-Unit Apartment Building In Downtown Laramie Would Ruin Historic Vibe
A proposed five-story, 88-unit apartment building in downtown Laramie has the city abuzz with controversy. Supporters say it will provide sorely needed housing. Opponents say it will hog parking spaces and ruin the historic vibe.
Mark HeinzMay 02, 2024
In First Video Of The Season, Grizzly 399 And Super-Sized Cub Look ‘Gorgeous’
Using a spotting scope from several hundred yards away, wildlife photographer Ryan Kempfer caught the first video of the year of Grizzly 399 and her gigantic cub on Tuesday. Both were looking "gorgeous," he said.
Mark HeinzMay 01, 2024
'Dirtbag' Thief Caught On Video Stealing Shed Antlers From Wyoming Yard
Two hours before the opening of shed antler hunting season in much of Wyoming early Wednesday, a security cam captured footage of a thief stealing several antlers from a yard in Casper. One seasoned shed hunter says stealing antlers is a “dirtbag” move.
Mark HeinzMay 01, 2024
Accused Wolf Abuser Earned $120,000 From Contracts With Wyoming Agencies
A Daniel man who allegedly tortured and killed a wolf has had numerous trucking contracts with two Wyoming state agencies, earning about $120,000. It’s uncertain whether he will do any more work for either agency.
Mark HeinzMay 01, 2024
Hunters Livid Over Apparent ‘Thrill Killing’ Of Wyoming Elk Left To Rot
Three elk that were apparently illegally shot and left to rot in a remote section of Campbell County this month were part of one of Wyoming’s few plains elk herds, making the poaching that much more enraging for legal elk hunters.
Mark HeinzApril 30, 2024
Before Grizzly 399, Scarface Was One Of Wyoming's Most Famous Bears
Though his fame was eventually eclipsed by Grizzly 399, a big Yellowstone bear named Scarface, who got his name from battles with other grizzlies, was a legend in his time. The way he died, however, is still a source of controversy.
Mark HeinzApril 30, 2024
Man Accused Of Drunk-Kicking Bison Sets Off Yellowstone’s Animal Attack Season
Tourist season has begun! The National Park Service on Monday announced the first bison attack of the season. An Idaho man displayed “Darwin Award”-level stupidity when he allegedly kicked a bison last week while drunk.
Mark HeinzApril 29, 2024
The Creative, Fun And Slightly Twisted ‘Rogue Taxidermy’ Movement
A dollhouse built into the cavity of a deer is an example of the creative and slightly twisted “rogue taxidermy” movement. It involves turning taxidermy mounts into clocks, pieces of furniture, vehicles and other things.
Mark HeinzApril 27, 2024
Man Who’s Spent 18 Years In A Horse-Drawn Wagon Is Rolling Across Wyoming Again
A man calling himself Lee The Horselogger has lived on the road in a horse-drawn wagon for 18 years. He's making his way across Wyoming again on his fifth trip across America. Cowboy State Daily caught up with him near Hanna.
Mark HeinzApril 27, 2024
Wyoming Deputy Has Rare Encounter With Grizzly Near Kemmerer
A Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy caught a rare glimpse of a grizzly near Kemmerer on Thursday afternoon -- far south from where grizzlies typically range. The sighting fits a wider pattern of the bears ranging far from their core habitat in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
Mark HeinzApril 26, 2024
Feds Approve Grizzlies Back In Washington State, Wyoming Bears Could Be Used
Some of Wyoming’s grizzly bears will likely end up going to Washington state’s North Cascades after the federal government this week approved a reintroduction program there. Washington locals already hate the idea.
Mark HeinzApril 26, 2024
Wyoming Outdoorsmen Praise New Laser-Guided, Flamethrowing Robot Dog
Need more firepower and have about $9,500 to spare? A pair of Wyoming outdoorsmen believe that a laser-guided flamethrower robot dog is the greatest thing you never knew you needed.
Mark HeinzApril 26, 2024
Colorado Wolves Expand Range, May Already Be Crossing Into Wyoming
Tracking data for Colorado’s reintroduced wolves shows them possibly wandering right up to the Wyoming state line, but it’s not confirmed whether any have crossed over.
Mark HeinzApril 25, 2024
Despite Online Hype, Nobody In Wyoming Has Caught ‘Zombie Deer Disease’
“Zombie deer disease” is a hyped-up term for chronic wasting disease, which has infected some Wyoming wildlife herds. And despite recent hyped-up reports about humans catching it and turning into zombies, nobody in Wyoming has.
Mark HeinzApril 24, 2024
New Study In Journal Of Zoology Says Sasquatch Sightings Are Likely Just Bears
A new scientific study sadly announced that Bigfoot is probably not real. The Journal Of Zoology reported that when black bear populations increase in an area, so do the number of people reporting they saw a Sasquatch.
Mark HeinzApril 24, 2024
Bear Cubs Whoop It Up On Ladder At Ski Resort Gondola Tower
It might have seemed odd and even dangerous watching video of a trio of black bear cubs that climbed a massive gondola tower at Steamboat ski resort in northwest Colorado on Saturday, but the bears were just having fun.
Mark HeinzApril 23, 2024
Elk Hunting In Wyoming’s Remote ‘Little Siberia’ Might Help Trim Herds
For Wyoming hunters, the acquisition of a $2.3 million piece of the Mule Creek Ranch will get them access to an area of Albany County teeming with elk. Two hours from anywhere, it's located in a stretch of mind-boggling vastness that locals call “Little Siberia.”
Mark HeinzApril 22, 2024
She’s Awake! Grizzly 399 And Gigantic Cub Emerge From Hibernation
The world’s most famous bear, Wyoming’s grizzly 399, along with her gigantic cub Spirit, have emerged from hibernation and were spotted briefly Sunday night in a confirmed sighting.
Mark HeinzApril 22, 2024
Mama Horse Stands Up To Wolf Trying To Kill Her Baby
For ranchers Gabby and Cole Thoreson, their timing couldn’t have been better. They went to check on their horses just in time to see one of their mares engaged in a tense standoff with a wolf that was apparently trying to kill her young foal.
Mark HeinzApril 21, 2024
Transylvania Is Famous For Vampires, But Also Has Lots Of Grizzlies And Wolves
Krisztina Gayler has a long history of ranching in grizzly and wolf country on two continents. She grew up on a ranch in Hungary and came to the U.S. in 2005. She maintains strong ties with ranchers here in Wyoming, as well as in Hungary, Romania, and Transylvania.
Mark HeinzApril 21, 2024
Animal Forensics Expert Calls For Examination Of Tortured Wolf Carcass
A Wyoming animal forensics expert is calling for an examination of the carcass of a wolf that was allegedly captured and tortured in Daniel, but it’s not clear whether the carcass is still available.
Mark HeinzApril 19, 2024
To Beat The Heat, Yellowstone Grizzlies Jump Into ‘Bear Bathtubs’
Summer isn’t all fun and relaxation for Yellowstone’s bears, they’re busy packing on fat for the winter, which makes them heat magnets. So, they jump into “bear bathtubs” to cool off.
Mark HeinzApril 19, 2024
Cattle Kill Count For Colorado Wolves Up To Six
Six cows have been killed by wolves in Colorado so far this year, and wolves with Wyoming roots might be involved in some of the attacks.
Mark HeinzApril 18, 2024
$28M Crossing Project Planned On Deadly Highway For Wyoming Mule Deer
Hundreds of mule deer are killed along a 25-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 26, roughly centered around Dubois, so a coalition of state agencies and tribal and private groups has pegged it for Wyoming’s next major wildlife crossing project.
Mark HeinzApril 18, 2024
Angry People Travel From All Over Country To Voice Outrage Over Tortured Wolf
Lorraine Finazzo thought about using Zoom from her home in South Carolina to tell the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission her feelings about a wolf being captured, tortured and killed in Daniel. But felt she needed to make the trip instead.
Mark HeinzApril 17, 2024
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Blasts Wolf Abuse
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday issued a stark condemnation of the apparent capture, abuse and killing of a wolf in Sublette County. Meanwhile, Gov. Mark Gordon is “monitoring the situation.”
Mark HeinzApril 16, 2024
Animal Welfare Groups Offer $20,000 In Rewards For Wyoming Wolf Torture Info
Animal welfare groups are upping the ante on trying to get a Wyoming man to face more criminal penalties for allegedly tormenting a young wolf, offering $20,000 in reward money.
Mark HeinzApril 16, 2024
Grizzly Confirmed In Wyoming Bighorn Mountains; Bear Killed For Attacking Cattle
After years of rumors that there were grizzly bears roaming Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on Monday confirmed that one has been killed for preying on cattle near Ten Sleep.
Mark HeinzApril 15, 2024
Wyoming Officials Investigate If Having Wolf In Bar Is Food Safety Violation
The Wyoming Department of Agriculture is sending an inspector to the Green River Bar in Daniel to determine whether a live wolf being taken into the bar amounts to a food safety violation.
Mark HeinzApril 15, 2024
Bee Rustlers Target Wyoming Hives Sent To Pollenate California Crops
Wyoming bees help pollinate massive almond groves in California, but while there, they’re at risk of being stolen by bee rustlers. Like the cattle rustlers of the Old West, modern day bee rustlers are organized, determined and crafty.
Mark HeinzApril 13, 2024