Outdoors Reporter

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.

Follow Mark Heinz

Envelope

Latest from Mark Heinz

A pair of mountain bikers were surprised when a bear showed up to chase them on a trail.

Bells On Mountain Bikes Could Help Cyclists Avoid Grizzly Maulings

Mountain bikers and grizzlies aren’t a good combination, as a Montana cyclist learned in 2016 when he surprised a bear and was killed. With more mountain bikes than ever in the backcountry, bells, shouting and carrying bear spray might help.

Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2025

Teton County Search and Rescue transport a trail runner who went down with an injury in Phillips Canyon on June 22.

Teton County Search And Rescue Responding To More Calls Than Ever

Teton County Search and Rescue had its busiest six months ever from December 2024 through May 31. They had more calls in this six-month stretch than the team used to get in an entire year.

Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2025

This photo shows the devastating aftermath of an accidental fireworks explosion inside the South Hall building in Torrington on July 1, 2020. Firefighters were preparing the city’s Fourth of July fireworks display. An unexpected ignition set off a chain reaction. Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt.

Kaboom! Since Explosion In 2020, Torrington Hasn’t Had Fourth Of July Fireworks

There were city fireworks displays all over Wyoming last week to celebrate the 4th of July. But not in Torrington. Ever since an accident set-off all the fireworks at once which blew the roof off a building, they've passed on an annual celebration.

Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2025

Keeping Wyoming hiking and biking trails clear of fallen trees often falls to volunteers from local organizations. One such group is the Central Wyoming Trails Alliance – which maintains the Casper Mountain trail network.

Trees Are Blocking Wyoming Trails, And They Can’t Be Cleared Fast Enough

Dead trees keep falling over onto trails across Wyoming. With federal trail crews in short supply, the work of clearing the trails is increasingly falling on private companies or local volunteer groups.

Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2025

A herd of cattle stand in a pasture as a lightning bolt strikes behind them in this file photo.

Lightning Not Only A Wildfire Threat, It Also Kills A Lot Of Cows And Livestock

People were stunned by the death of a local animal celebrity, Larry the camel, who was stuck and killed by lightning last week but animal deaths from lightning are more common than many people might think.

Mark HeinzJuly 10, 2025

The last surviving cub of Grizzly 1063 in Grand Teton National Park, seen here with its mom, was trapped and relocated because it was hanging around a settled area. A bear expert said the yearling has good odds of surviving on its own.

Grizzly 1063’s Last Surviving Cub Trapped, Relocated Off On Its Own

The last surviving cub of Grizzly 1063 in Grand Teton National Park was trapped and relocated because it was hanging around a settled area. A bear expert said the yearling has good odds of surviving on its own.

Mark HeinzJuly 09, 2025

Raspberry has for years been a favorite among Yellowstone National Park’s grizzlies. Her fans worry that she might have been killed by another bear in June.

Fans Of Popular Yellowstone Grizzly Raspberry Fear Another Bear Killed Her

Fans of Raspberry, one of Yellowstone National Park’s most beloved and popular grizzly bears, fear she’s dead, perhaps killed by another bear.

Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2025

Game And Fish Backs Off Unpopular Changes To Landowner Hunting Tags

A proposal to raise the amount of land Wyomingites must own to qualify for landowner hunting tags is apparently off the table. But hunters worry it could come back for consideration by the Legislature.

Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2025

A fire thought to have been ignited by fireworks late Friday destroyed the trailer home and storage shed of Dennis Wheeler on Fort Sanders Road, just south of Laramie. Wheeler’s son, Kyle Wheeler, pulled him out just before the entire home went up in flames.

Son Pulls Laramie Man From Blazing Trailer Home Just In Time

A Laramie man pulled his father out of a blazing trailer home with just seconds to spare late Friday. The family suspects it was started by errant fireworks.

Mark HeinzJuly 07, 2025

Jared Koenig, the director of recreation with the Sheridan Community Land Trust, demonstrates a “floater-friendly fence” that could help curb conflicts between ranchers and river recreationalists.

Floater-Friendly Fences Could Cool Fighting Between Wyoming Boaters And Ranchers

Steel cables with rope “danglers” that allow boaters to pass through could help cool fighting between floaters and ranchers in Wyoming. One such fight is brewing on Pine Creek near Pinedale.

Mark HeinzJuly 06, 2025

A Park County, Colorado, search and rescue team went 11 miles and spent 10 hours rescuing a dog that was overcome with exhaustion during a hike on June 24. Wyoming search and rescue teams aren’t willing to do that, you’d have to carry your dog out yourself here.

Colorado Search And Rescue Saves Dog, Something Wyoming Teams Can't Do

A Colorado search and rescue team spent 10 hours last week rescuing an exhausted dog from the backcountry. But in Wyoming, dogs are on their own as humans are the only priority. "We don't have the resources," one rescuer said.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

A mare named Barmaid escaped from its corral near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park and ran loose in the park for about two weeks before finally being captured, safe and sound.

Trail Horse Named Barmaid Escapes, Runs Free in Grand Teton For Two Weeks

A trail riding mare named Barmaid escaped from a corral and ran free in Grand Teton National Park for about two weeks. She was finally rounded up last weekend without having suffered a single scratch.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

Other Authors

A stoat, or small member of the weasel family, invaded Warren Meyer’s garage north of Cheyenne. It was loose inside for about 20 hours before Meyer caught it and then set it free outside, unharmed.

Rural Cheyenne Garage Invaded By Stoat With Active Anal Glands

When Warren Meyer briefly opened his garage door this week, a stoat — or small weasel — darted-in unbeknownst to him. Meyer quickly found out that stoats have active and powerful anal glands.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

Artillery is still the queen of the battlefield, and new business venture in Cody aims help meet the demand for ammunition by churning out 155-millimeter high explosive shells. A company called US Ballistic Laboratories plans to set shop in the former Cody Laboratories pharmaceuticals building on Road 2AB at the northern edge of town.

US Ballistic To Start Churning Out 155-mm Military Artillery Shells In Cody

A building in Cody that was once used for pharmaceuticals, then eyed by Kanye West as a shoe factory, is on track to start assembling artillery shells. US Ballistic Labs says it picked Wyoming for its patriotic and firearms-friendly culture.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

Grizzlies are a common sight out on the prairie flatlands near Augusta, in north-central Montana.

Tiny Montana Towns Adjust To Prairie Grizzlies And Attacks On Livestock

Grizzly bears continue to move back into prairie country in Montana. Near tiny rural communities, they’ve been attacking livestock and eating deer fawns. They've become so prevalent that "the cows didn't even seem to notice" them.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

The Tradition Continues: Mark Heinz Plays ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ On A Chainsaw

In what’s become an Independence Day tradition, Cowboy State Daily outdoors writer Mark Heinz plays “The Star Spangled Banner” on a chainsaw. Happy Fourth of July!

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs

The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.

Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025

Somebody illegally hacked down about 20 live trees at the Tower Hill campground on Casper Mountain to build this lean-to right in the middle of a hiking trail.

Hacking Live Trees To Make Lean-To On Trail Not Only Inconsiderate, It’s Illegal

Responsible users of the public trails on Casper Mountain were outraged this week when someone cut down about 20 young, live trees and made a lean-to on a trail. That’s not only inconsiderate, it’s illegal — if the perpetrators are ever caught.

Mark HeinzJune 28, 2025

Isaac Rempe holds a cub named Charmin at the Grizzly Ranch Bear Rescue in Alabama.

It’s Sweet Home Alabama For Bears On Southern ‘Grizzly Ranch’

Alabama might be the last place you’d expect to find grizzly bears, but there are several of them thriving there on the Grizzly Ranch Bear Rescue. The man who runs it says it's his mission in life to rescue bears.

Mark HeinzJune 27, 2025

After suffering devastating injuries responding to a house fire on Feb. 28, Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt spent months in recovery at a physical therapy center in Denver. On June 20, he walked out and greeted fellow firefighters.

Laramie Firefighter Crushed And Paralyzed In House Fire Walks Out Of Hospital

Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt was left temporarily paralyzed when a massive stone chimney chase collapsed on him and a colleague on Feb. 28. After four months of intense work, he walked out of a Denver inpatient physical therapy center last week.

Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, right, has only himself to blame for the downfall of his plan to sell federal public lands. Former Assistant Interior Secretary Rob Wallace, left, says Lee shot his bill in the foot when “he cut the public out of the discussion.”

Former Asst. Interior Secretary Says Downfall Of Land Sale Bill Lee’s Own Fault

Sen. Mike Lee has only himself to blame for the downfall of his plan to sell federal public lands. Former Assistant Interior Secretary Rob Wallace says Lee shot his bill in the foot when “he cut the public out of the discussion.”

Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025