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
Local Rancher Not Surprised Anatolian Pyrenees Dog Rescued Lost Arizona Toddler
Montana rancher Lauren Stoddard told Cowboy State Daily that she wasn’t the least bit surprised by the account of an Anatolian Pyrenees rescuing a lost toddler in Arizona this month. “These dogs identify need," Stoddard said.
Mark HeinzApril 24, 2025
New Ammo Sales Restriction In Colorado Could Push More Customers To Wyoming
A new Colorado law will require retailers to lock up the ammunition in their stores. A Wyoming gun store manager says Colorado’s firearms policies could push more customers toward Wyoming.
Mark HeinzApril 23, 2025
Wyoming Rancher Worries More Elk Tags Will Make Herds Hide From Hunters
Elk hunters in northeast Wyoming are facing a quandary — how to give hunters access to kill enough elk to keep the herds in check. An area rancher worries more tags will make the herds hide from hunters.
Mark HeinzApril 23, 2025
With Federal Grants In Question, Wyoming Wildlife Crossing Projects Are On Hold
With federal grants frozen as the Trump administration combs through federal budgets, some major Wyoming wildlife crossing projects are on hold.
Mark HeinzApril 22, 2025
Horizontal Drilling Could Keep Wyoming’s ‘Path Of The Pronghorn’ Clear
Protecting the “Path of the Pronghorn” migration route is vital for the Sublette antelope herd, which is a national treasure, a biologist says. Drilling technology could help keep the path clear for Wyoming’s prized pronghorn.
Mark HeinzApril 22, 2025
Rare Black Fox Pops Out Along Roadside In Yellowstone
A fox with rare black fur made a brief roadside appearance in Yellowstone National Park last week. The fox’s coloring is probably the result of a condition called melanism.
Mark HeinzApril 21, 2025
Ravens Attack Lambs, But Are Protected In Wyoming, So You Can’t Shoot Them
With calving and lambing season underway, Wyoming ranchers must fend off predators. Ravens are among the worst with their attacks on lambs, but can’t be shot because they’re a protected species.
Mark HeinzApril 20, 2025
Group Wants Nearly 1,200 Grizzlies In California, But Could It Actually Happen?
A new study from a group that wants grizzlies reintroduced to California claims the state could handle nearly 1,200 bears. Wildlife officials say that’s unrealistic.
Mark HeinzApril 19, 2025
Protecting Wyoming Pronghorn A Balancing Act Of Conservation, Energy Development
The “Path of the Pronghorn,” one of Wyoming’s most-used antelope travel routes, could be designated as an official migration corridor, possibly restricting energy development.
Mark HeinzApril 19, 2025
Momma Black Bear, Tiny Cub Caught Crawling Out Of Their Yellowstone Den
Female bears with cubs usually don’t emerge from hibernation until May. But a lucky photographer got photos when one momma black bear was "like a sloth" venturing out of the den early with at least one tiny cub Monday in Yellowstone National Park.
Mark HeinzApril 18, 2025
Limpy, Yellowstone’s Infamous Coyote Con Artist, Is At It Again
Limpy the coyote is Yellowstone National Park’s greatest con artist. He hangs out along the roadside, greatly exaggerating a leg injury, hoping to get snacks from soft-hearted tourists.
Mark HeinzApril 17, 2025
Prominent Wyoming Mule Deer Advocate Picked To Serve In Trump Administration
Prominent Wyoming wildlife conservationist Josh Coursey has been tapped to serve in President Donald Trump’s administration in a role he can't yet disclose. He joins a number of people with Wyoming ties picked by the administration.
Mark HeinzApril 17, 2025
Montana Hunter Kills Charging Grizzly In Year’s First Reported Human-Bear Clash
In the first reported major run-in between a grizzly and a human this year, a man hunting shed antlers in north-central Montana shot and killed a female grizzly bear that he says charged him.
Mark HeinzApril 15, 2025
Famous Yellowstone Wolf Pack Hunting Calf Nearly Clobbered By Adult Bison
Yellowstone National Park’s Junction Butte wolf pack failed in a recent attempt to bring down a yearling bison calf. The calf and its mother ran to a group of adult bison, which in turn tried to clobber the wolves.
Mark HeinzApril 15, 2025
It’s Legal To Own Kangaroos In Wyoming, But They’d Probably Freeze To Death
There seems to be some confusion over whether it’s legal to own a kangaroo in Wyoming. It is — but you’ll need a special permit, and as mostly outside pets, kangaroos probably couldn’t handle the Wyoming cold.
Mark HeinzApril 14, 2025
Agencies Tight-Lipped About Second Colorado Wolf Killed In Wyoming
A Wyoming law that protects the identities of wolf hunters seems to be behind an information blackout about the second Colorado wolf killed in Wyoming. That has people in both states frustrated.
Mark HeinzApril 14, 2025
Mountain Lions Blamed For Killing More Deer Than They Actually Do, Hunters Say
It’s widely assumed that an adult mountain lion kills a deer a week, but some seasoned mountain lion hunters question that. They say the big cats are blamed for killing more deer than they actually do.
Mark HeinzApril 13, 2025
Momma Bobcat Makes Incredible Leap To Snag Turkey Out Of The Air
A trail camera captured a rare wildlife moment in Oregon, where a bobcat was recorded making an incredible leap to snag a wild turkey, mid-air. The video won the Trail Cam Pro 2025 video of the year award.
Mark HeinzApril 12, 2025
Dire Wolves Would Destroy Everything If Reintroduced In Wyoming, Biologists Say
A bioscience company’s announcement this week that it’s brought back long-extinct dire wolves raised a lot of eyebrows. But they would destroy everything if a breeding population of them were reintroduced in Wyoming, biologists say.
Mark HeinzApril 12, 2025
Second Colorado Wolf Reintroduced From Canada Dies In Wyoming
A second wolf that was transplanted from British Columbia, Canada, to Colorado crossed the state line into Wyoming and died here Wednesday, Colorado wildlife officials confirmed Friday.
Mark HeinzApril 12, 2025
52-Year-Old Federally-Led Grizzly Study Team May Be On Chopping Block
A federally-led grizzly bear study team that goes back to 1973 could soon be on the chopping block because of ongoing federal cuts. It’s unclear what that might mean for the future of Wyoming’s grizzlies.
Mark HeinzApril 11, 2025