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
Punching An Attacking Grizzly In The Face Might Work, But Not Recommended
A man in British Columbia stopped a grizzly attack by punching the bear in the face. Some Wyoming bear experts say that say might work, but isn’t something anybody should try unless it’s a last ditch option.
Mark HeinzJuly 29, 2024
Rural Colorado Family Says Wolf Was Watching Their Kids And Sheep
A northern Colorado ranch family is on high alert after observing a wolf, they claim, were watching their kids and sheep. It’s one of a growing number of wolf encounters and livestock kills reported since that state reintroduced the predators in December.
Mark HeinzJuly 29, 2024
Cross-Carrying Street Preacher Walks Across Wyoming On Way To D.C.
Nick Schindler has made his walk with Christ an arduously physical thing, and he’s bearing his cross — a literal 75-pound solid-wood cross — through Wyoming on his way across America.
Mark HeinzJuly 28, 2024
Wisconsin Anglers Get Their Guns Back – Wyoming Anglers Say They’d Never Give Theirs Up To Begin With
Wisconsin banned people from carry guns while fishing for 14 years – presumably to stop dirtbags from shooting fish. Some Wyoming anglers said such a ban would never fly here – a .44 mag is pretty much standard gear for fishing in grizzly country.
Mark HeinzJuly 27, 2024
Colorado Wolves Close In On Wyoming, Would Get ‘Warm Welcome’ From Ranchers
Colorado wolves continue to close in crossing into Wyoming, which wouldn’t be popular with ranchers near the border. One state legislator said it’s likely any wolves that come into Wyoming would get a “warm welcome.”
Mark HeinzJuly 26, 2024
Grizzlies Fight Over Food Right Next To Wyoming Man’s Truck
Getting video of a grizzly mother and cub fighting over food, practically within arm’s reach (but taken safely from his truck), seemed cool enough to share on social media for a Cody man, but he didn’t expect it to catch fire.
Mark HeinzJuly 26, 2024
Critics Say Cody Too Isolated For $10 Million Wyoming Shooting Complex
Now that a spot about 7.5 miles south of Cody has been picked for the coveted $10 million Wyoming Shooting Complex, critics say it’s too isolated. Backers say that won’t discourage its target audience — competitive shooters and events.
Mark HeinzJuly 25, 2024
Game And Fish Genetically Modify Brook Trout To Make Them All Male
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department have come up with a seemingly sci-fi way to combat brook trout that have been taking over habitat from native cutthroats. Turn the brookies all male by mixing them with genetically-altered “Trojan” fish.
Mark HeinzJuly 24, 2024
Grizzly Killed, Left In River With Head, Paws Cut Off, Was Well-Known Yellowstone Bear
A grizzly carcass left in the Yellowstone River with its head and paws cut off is that of a well-known Yellowstone bear, Grizzly 769. Wildlife officials said they removed the parts after killing it last week so they wouldn't end up on the black market.
Mark HeinzJuly 24, 2024
$10M Wyoming Shooting Complex To Be Built South Of Cody
A site about 7 miles south of Cody has been chosen for a $10 million Wyoming shooting complex, a state task force decided Monday. Construction could start next spring, and the complex could be open for business by spring 2026.
Mark HeinzJuly 23, 2024
Tourists Run Screaming From Yellowstone Bear That Looks Like A Muppet
A young black bear with different coloring that looked more like a Muppet than an apex predator freaked out Yellowstone tourists. But the bear, which had shaggy fur and racoon-like markings, was just a regular bear, an expert says.
Mark HeinzJuly 23, 2024
Protesters Rally In Rock Springs To End Wyoming Mustang Roundup
Demonstrators from several states showed up in Rock Springs on Monday to protest the BLM's Wyoming mustang roundups. Next month, the BLM plans to round up about 500-600 wild horses in the White Mountain area, reducing that herd to roughly 300 horses.
Mark HeinzJuly 22, 2024
In Brief: Montana Grizzly Killed While Charging Man Picking Berries
A man told game wardens that he shot and killed a grizzly after it attacked him while he was picking berries in northern Montana on Thursday. It was the second grizzly killed that day.
Mark HeinzJuly 19, 2024
Wyoming Family Has A 56-Pound Tank Of A Pet Raccoon Named Rico
Rico is a 56-pound tank of a raccoon that’s worked out as a loving pet for a family near Lander. But veterinarians say domesticating raccoons should be avoided because they can turn into possessed demons from hell.
Mark HeinzJuly 19, 2024
Montana Wildlife Agency Confirms Killing Of Grizzly That Was Breaking Into Homes
Montana wildlife officials confirmed they shot a grizzly bear that had been causing trouble around the Yellowstone gateway town of Gardiner, Mont., and was breaking into yet another house early Thursday. The bear was killed in the Yellowstone River.
Mark HeinzJuly 19, 2024
Rumor That Town-Terrorizing Grizzly Bear Is Dead Brings Sadness And Relief
A large grizzly bear that’s been smashing house windows, breaking into vehicles and raising Hell in the tiny Yellowstone gateway town of Gardiner, Mont., might have been killed by wildlife agents on Thursday. Some townspeople are relieved to hear it.
Mark HeinzJuly 19, 2024
Chatty Hikers Bother Wyoming’s Wildlife, Study Reveals
A new study published in a scientific journal in June show that animals are really annoyed by the sound of chatty hikers and mountain bikers. Black bears and elk were most skittish about human voices while cougars really don't care.
Mark HeinzJuly 18, 2024
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