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
Yellowstone Wolf Learns That Going After Elk Alone Usually Leads To A Stomping
A lone wolf that tried taking on some elk in Yellowstone National Park was lucky it didn’t get stomped to death. Biologists say such solo hunts rarely work out for wolves.
Mark HeinzAugust 28, 2024
Colorado Has At Least Three Wolf Pups Now, And They’re Growing Fast
A video by a Colorado outdoorsman confirms that state’s new wolf pack has at least three new pups. But people there continue to be divided on reintroducing the predators to the Centennial State.
Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2024
Country Superstar Lainey Wilson’s New Video Features Wyoming Ranch, Deputies
Country music superstar Lainey Wilson shot the music video for her new single "Whirlwind" on a ranch in Albany County. It also features locations around Laramie and three local deputies.
Mark HeinzAugust 26, 2024
Grim Wildlife Death Count Expected As Wildfires Rip Through Northern Wyoming
State Game and Fish agents are preparing for the grim task of counting wildlife carcasses killed by raging wildfires in northern Wyoming that have burned more than 430,000 acres so far.
Mark HeinzAugust 25, 2024
Wyoming Hunting: Triple-Digit Heat, Wildfires For Start Of Bowhunting Season
A week into some of Wyoming’s archery hunting seasons, it’s still sweltering hot. But even triple-digit temperatures can't keep committed bowhunters from pursuing their tags.
Mark HeinzAugust 25, 2024
After Rescuing Eggs, Wild Goose Returns To Wyoming Ranch For 24 Years
A Wyoming rancher rescued some Canada goose eggs that her chickens incubated. One of the geese that hatched has returned to her ranch every spring for 24 years.
Mark HeinzAugust 24, 2024
Popular Snowy Range Road Still Closed, But People Are Using It Anyway
Boswell Road, a popular access to Wyoming’s Snowy Ranch, remains closed as campers and bowhunters look for access. The legal status of the road remains in limbo, but closed or not, people are using it anyway.
Mark HeinzAugust 23, 2024
Brief: Game And Fish Relocates Grizzlies That Killed Calves In Northwest Wyoming
Two adult grizzlies – a male and a female – were trapped and relocated after killing ranchers’ calves in separate incidents in northwest Wyoming.
Mark HeinzAugust 23, 2024
Wyoming Energy, Mining Industries Slam BLM Rock Springs Plan As Biden Overreach
A coalition of Wyoming energy and mining industry groups are slamming the final Rock Springs Resource Management Plan released Thursday. They call it an example of government overreach by the Biden/Harris administration.
Mark HeinzAugust 22, 2024
BLM Releases Controversial Rock Springs Plan, Wyoming Officials Already Hate It
After a year of controversy, the BLM’s Rock Springs Resource Management Plan was released Thursday. Wyoming officials already hate it, saying the Biden administration is “pushing Wyoming off an economic cliff.”
Mark HeinzAugust 22, 2024
State Rep. Crago Scores Win Over Rep. Mark Jennings In Senate Primary
In a race between two rival state House members vying for a State Senate seat, Rep. Barry Crago of Buffalo prevailed over Rep. Mark Jennings of Sheridan.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2024
Tom Kelly Defeats Gail Symons In Sheridan Primary Race For House District 30
In the race between two Republicans in Sheridan for a House seat being vacated, the more conservative candidate — Tom Kelly — won, beating Gail Symons.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2024
There’s So Many Deer In Sheridan, Cops Want People To Bowhunt Them In Town
Sheridan is overrun with deer, so the Wyoming Game and Fish and police are inviting people to hunt them in city limits. There are some catches, like you have to use a bow and only in certain areas.
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2024
Making Bears ‘Family’ Sets Everybody Up For Maiming, Death
A social media video depicting people “adopting” bears and raising them as pets is terrible idea, experts told Cowboy State Daily. They are just setting themselves up to be mauled, they said.
Mark HeinzAugust 19, 2024
Uh-Oh, Grizzly Bears Are Mating With Polar Bears
Although "Grolars" or “Pizzly Bears," may sound like a new breed of super-predator, crossbreeding between grizzlies and polar bears remain pretty rare. There have been only eight confirmed cases and no new ones in the last decade.
Mark HeinzAugust 18, 2024
In Burns And Carpenter, Ice Cream Is Smoothing Old Wyoming Rivalry
The towns of Burns and Carpenter in southeast Wyoming are old rivals. But the ice cream served up at Josie’s Creamery out of the former Burns school band room is smoothing that over.
Mark HeinzAugust 18, 2024
Mac Sabbath Brings Its Weird Tribute To Black Sabbath & McDonald’s To Cheyenne
Mac Sabbath is a weird Black Sabbath cover band that melds heavy metal with McDonald’s food. Fronted by Ronald Osbourne with Slayer MacCheeze on guitar, Grimalice on bass, and Catburglar on drums, the tour stopped in Cheyenne this week and was hilariously good.
Mark HeinzAugust 17, 2024
Broken Dorm Elevators, Road Work Add To Move-In Day Nightmare At UW
Move-in day for University of Wyoming freshmen and their parents is usually barely controlled chaos. Add broken elevators, long lines and road construction all around the main campus and Friday’s move-in day was a nightmare for some.
Mark HeinzAugust 16, 2024
Yes, Grizzlies Are Dangerous But They're Pretty Mild Compared To Polar Bears
Grizzlies have a well-earned reputation as a dangerous apex predator and it's good to avoid them. Just be thankful you don't have to worry about polar bears in Wyoming. They're bigger, more aggressive and much more likely to think of people as a food source.
Mark HeinzAugust 16, 2024
Meet Gus, The Super-Friendly 1,200-Pound Horse Who Comes Running For Cody Kids
Gus is a 20-year-old quarter horse that lives near Cody Middle School and loves people, especially kids. He’s super-friendly and comes running to meet kids every morning and afternoon.
Mark HeinzAugust 15, 2024
Wyoming’s Wild Critters Feeling Pressure From Wildlife Paparazzi
With more people than ever competing for perfect wildlife photos, stupid human tricks with cameras are a growing concern. Wyoming’s wild critters are feeling the pressure from an increasingly aggressive wildlife paparazzi.
Mark HeinzAugust 15, 2024