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.

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Latest from Mark Heinz

Cody resident Aubrey Slackey saw a grizzly tearing into some hay bales near Yellowstone and started shooting video.

Wyoming Places: It's Not Every Day You See A Grizzly Fall Off Some Hay Bales

When Cody resident Aubrey Slackey saw a grizzly on top of some hay bales near Yellowstone, he started shooting video. Then the grizzly fell off. “He looked like he was embarrassed. He gave me a look like, ‘You didn’t just see me do that,’” he said.

Mark HeinzApril 24, 2026

Grizzly 610 is pictured here with her most recent litter of three cubs, on May 6, 2023.

Famous Grizzy 610 A No-Show So Far This Year, Could Mean She Has Cubs

Grizzly 610, one of Grand Teton National Park's most famous bears, has yet to emerge this year. But her fans aren’t worried. They say it probably means she has a new cub, or cubs. In which case, she’ll show up next month with her little ones in tow.

Mark HeinzApril 23, 2026

Wyoming state Rep. Karlee Provenza and a Montana legislator posted video corner-crossing at the Carbon County spot that started a yearslong legal war. Corner-crossing was affirmed legal in Wyoming last year, but it’s illegal in Montana.

To Prove Corner-Crossing Is Legit, Wyoming, Montana Lawmakers Cross Corners

Wyoming state Rep. Karlee Provenza and a Montana legislator posted video of themselves corner-crossing at the Carbon County spot that started a yearslong legal war. She said she took the video to demonstrate the legality of corner-crossing in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzApril 23, 2026

Bruno, one of Wyoming’s most popular grizzlies, had his face ripped open last fall, seen at left. After being captured and treated for his wounds, he showed up fully healed this spring, right.

Popular Grizzly Bruno Emerges With His Gnarly, Ripped-Open Face Healed

Bruno, one of Wyoming’s most popular grizzlies, had his face ripped open last fall in what many bear observers believe was a fight with another male grizzly. After being captured and treated for his wounds, he showed up fully healed this spring.

Mark HeinzApril 22, 2026

Wood bison are indigenous to Alaksa, where efforts are underway to restore their numbers.

Alaska Moves To Restore Wood Bison, Even Bigger Cousins Of Wyoming’s Plains Bison

Yellowstone’s bison are doing well, but their bigger cousins — wood bison — are struggling to recover in Alaska after being nearly killed off. As massive as Wyoming’s plains bison are, wood bison are about 15% larger.

Mark HeinzApril 21, 2026

A wolf from Yellowstone National Park’s Wapiti pack tests its luck with a bison on Sunday.

Yellowstone Visitors Witness Harsh Reality Of Nature As Wolves Attack Bison

Yellowstone visitors had a front-row seat to the stark reality of the contest between predator and prey early Sunday, when nine members of the Wapiti wolf pack went after a herd of bison. Stunningly, the bison survived, although some were injured.

Mark HeinzApril 20, 2026

Kansas residwent Tom Rives, who’s hunted all over the West, says he wants his final “retirement" elk hunt to be in Wyoming. Asked why Wyoming, “It’s still one of the great Western states” thats "untouched and unspoiled,” he said.

Kansas Man Wants To Bag One Last Elk Hunt In Wyoming Before Retiring From Sport

A Kansas man who’s hunted all over the West says he wants his final “retirement" elk hunt to be in Wyoming. “It’s still one of the great Western states that's untouched and unspoiled,” he said.

Mark HeinzApril 18, 2026

Fly-fishing guide Dustin White, left, and Ugly Bug Fly Shop owner Blake Jackson show off White’s Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year Award.

Casper Angler Named World’s Best Fly-Fishing Guide By Orvis

Dustin White, a guide for the Ugly Bug Fly Shop in Casper, was named the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year, regarded in the industry as recognition of the best guide in the fly-fishing world. He said making people happy through his job is better than any award.

Mark HeinzApril 17, 2026

A female grizzly that was captured and moved from the Glacier National Park are to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem emerged with two cubs this month. Wildlife managers say it’s important step toward genetic exchange between northern Yellowstone bear populations.

Grizzly Transplanted To Yellowstone Has Cubs, Raising Hopes For Genetic Exchange

A female grizzly transplanted from near Glacier National Park to Yellowstone has emerged with two cubs, initiating genetic exchange between bear populations. Some say it’s not enough to impact the debate over delisting grizzlies from federal protection.

Mark HeinzApril 17, 2026

Elk on the beach are a common sight at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Tourists Try To Ride Elk Which Are Taking Over Beaches In Coastal Oregon Town

As herds of elk have overtaken a beach in a small Oregon coastal town, tourists have tried to put their children on them to ride and others attempt to feed them carrots. “We have visitors who don't know elk are wild animals,” said the local chamber.

Mark HeinzApril 16, 2026

Fed up with raccoons killing his chickens, Cheyenne-area resident Kevin Gunter built a “chicken fortress,” which he dubbed “The Henitentiary."

Laramie County Man Declares War On Killer Raccoons, Builds ‘Chicken Fortress'

A Cheyenne-area man says he’s “not messing around anymore,” declaring war on the raccoons that keep killing his chickens. He spent $1,300 building an impenetrable “chicken fortress” to protect his flock.

Mark HeinzApril 15, 2026

This refurbished 1971 Ford Bronco Sport sold at auction in Nebraska for $56,000 on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.

Vintage Ford Broncos Are Still All The Rage, Easily Selling For $50,000 Or More

First-generation Ford Broncos are all the rage with collectors, easily fetching $50,000 or more. A 1971 Ford Bronco Sport sold at a Nebraska auction Tuesday for $56,000, which a Wyoming vintage Bronco fanatic says was a bargain.

Mark HeinzApril 15, 2026

Other Authors

After a Laramie man totaled his car colliding with a moose, he and his fiancée hoped that they could at least claim the meat. But then somebody else came along and stole their roadkill.

A Moose Totaled Laramie Couple's Car, Then Somebody Took Their Roadkill

After a Laramie man totaled his car colliding with a moose in the dark early morning hours Monday, he and his fiancée hoped that they could at least claim the meat. But then somebody else came along and stole their roadkill.

Mark HeinzApril 14, 2026

Owen Miller of northeast Wyoming and Zac Hearon of Hardin, Montana have been hunting Wyoming turkeys together for years.

Huge Wyoming Turkey Season Expected On Heels Of Warm Winter

A mild winter has produced a bumper crop of Wyoming turkeys, and the territorial gobbling rituals have started early this year. “The population is going to explode,” say seasoned turkey hunters, leading to a huge season.

Mark HeinzApril 14, 2026

Students from several Wyoming high schools are participating in a new fly-fishing school club program.

Wyoming High School Teams Compete In Newest Club Sport — Fly-Fishing

Fly-fishing teams from seven Wyoming high schools are competing in the state’s newest club sport — fly-fishing. “They’ve all built their fishing rods, tied their flies, and now it’s time to compete,” seasoned fly-fishing guide Joey Puettman said.

Mark HeinzApril 14, 2026

Wyoming Concealed Carriers Want Permits Honored In 50 States, Trump Says Yes

As things stand now, Wyomingites with Concealed Carry Weapons Permits enter murky territory when they travel. Congress is considering bills to make the rules the same across the country. President Trump says he'll sign a bill if it crosses his desk.

Mark HeinzApril 13, 2026

Lynx are rare and elusive. They’re thought to be in numerous Wyoming counties, but are seldom seen.

Lynx Are So Rare And Elusive, Nobody Really Knows How Many Are In Wyoming

Once more common across much of the North American Rockies, lynx are now elusive and rare. A Wyoming wildlife researcher says there are lynx in the Cowboy State, but nobody’s really sure how many are out there.

Mark HeinzApril 12, 2026

Flaming Gorge Could Be Tapped To Make Up For ‘Horrible’ Colorado River Levels

Flaming Gorge is preparing to be drained by up to a third to make up for the “horrible” Colorado River levels. Wyoming and other Upper Basin states could be left dry in response to desperate downriver water shortages.

Mark HeinzApril 11, 2026

Lonesome Lake is one of Wyoming’s premiere hiking destinations, at the foot of the Cirque of Towers, at the southern end of the Wind River Range mountains.

Wyoming’s Lonesome Lake Not So Lonesome; Hikers Say It’s Turning Into Mob Scene

The 9-mile hike into Lonesome Lake in the Wind River Range mountains takes hikers to the stunning Cirque of Towers. Some veteran hikers say social media has turned it into a mob scene and it's getting "loved to death."

Mark HeinzApril 11, 2026

After mistaking his own reflection in a sliding glass door for a rival ram, a desert bighorn sheep headbutted the door, and then fled, startled by the shattering glass.

Bighorn Ram Destroys Sliding Glass Door After Mistaking Reflection For Rival Ram

A bighorn sheep ram destroyed a sliding glass door in Yuma, Arizona, last week after seeing his own reflection and mistaking it for another ram. A former Wyoming Game and Fish wildlife supervisor wasn't surprised. "That's normal behavior," he said.

Mark HeinzApril 09, 2026

A Bison cow managed to pull herself free of the water in muck in Yellowstone National Park’s Blacktail Pond. The area is notorious for bison drownings.

Yellowstone Photographer Captures Bison's Heroic Escape From Notorious Death Trap

Yellowstone’s Blacktail Pond is a death trap for bison when they fall through ice or get stuck in mud there. Wildlife photographer Pete Bengeyfield thought for sure that one unfortunate bison was doomed but was thrilled to see her escape.

Mark HeinzApril 09, 2026

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