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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

A black bear was shot and killed late Friday morning in a subdivision north of Cheyenne. This is the second black bear spotted in the Cheyenne area this week. The property owner gave a neighbor, who had a bear hunting tag, permission to shoot the bear.

Black Bear Killed In Subdivision North Of Cheyenne; 2nd Bear In Area This Week

A black bear was shot and killed late Friday morning in a subdivision north of Cheyenne. This is the second black bear spotted in the Cheyenne area this week. The property owner gave a neighbor, who had a bear hunting tag, permission to shoot the bear.

Mark HeinzMay 15, 2026

Donny Paul of Cody likes to go bear hunting in the Bighorn Mountains.

Wyoming Hunter Angry After Putting Out Bait, Then Another Uses It To Shoot Bear

A Park County hunter is angry after putting out bear bait only to have other hunters use his bait to shoot a bear. He says that’s “unethical and immoral,” while one of the other hunters says they never got close and it’s a misunderstanding.

Mark HeinzMay 15, 2026

Raspberry, a favorite Yellowstone grizzly, is pictured here with her last cub, Little Bear.

Raspberry, The ‘Grizzly 399 Of Yellowstone’ Missing For A Year, Feared To Be Dead

It’s been a year since the last sighting of Raspberry, the “Grizzly 399 of Yellowstone.” She usually emerged in May and was highly visible from the road on the park’s east side. Fans are worried she's succumbed to an injury from a 2022 vehicle strike.

Mark HeinzMay 14, 2026

Wyoming congressional delegation is firmly behind the Trump administration’s move to rescind the 2001 federal Roadless Rule. But opponents of doing away with the rule say that will get grizzlies killed and derail efforts to delist them.

Opponents Say Rescinding Roadless Rule Will Get Grizzlies Killed, Derail Delisting

At a press conference Wednesday to voice concern over the expected rescinding of the 2001 federal Roadless Rule in national forests, opponents said doing away with the rule will get more grizzlies killed and could derail delisting.

Mark HeinzMay 13, 2026

A coyote pushed its luck too far with a mountain lion in the Red Desert and ended up becoming supper. Most of the time, run-ins between the two end with both walking away unharmed. "It's a rough world out there," said biologist Franz Camenzind.

Coyote Loses Bid Against Mountain Lion In Red Desert, Ends Up Becoming Supper

A coyote pushed its luck too far with a mountain lion in the Red Desert and ended up becoming supper. Most of the time, run-ins between the two end with both walking away unharmed. "It's a rough world out there," said biologist Franz Camenzind.

Mark HeinzMay 12, 2026

A black bear that was wandering around Cheyenne tried taking shelter in this barn on the east outskirts of town. The bear was safely captured and released back into the wild.

Black Bear Captured In Cheyenne Barn

A black bear caused a stir in Cheyenne early Tuesday when it was spotted wandering around the east side of town. It took shelter on a hayloft in a resident’s barn. “The bear probably thought that was a good place to hide,” the owner said.

Mark HeinzMay 12, 2026

The Trump administration has moved to open more National Park Service land to hunting. But that doesn’t mean fluorescent orange hunting vests and rifle shots will light up Yellowstone National Park this fall during elk hunting season, however.

Trump Moves To Open National Parks, Other Federal Lands, To More Hunting

The Trump administration has moved to open more National Park Service land to hunting. But that doesn’t mean fluorescent orange hunting vests and rifle shots will light up Yellowstone National Park this fall during elk hunting season, however.

Mark HeinzMay 11, 2026

Pepper Fipps, the Cow Boss at the Rafter Star Ranch near Sheridan, uses only “Big Wonderful Wyoming” mud flaps on the ranch flatbeds and big rigs. He’s having trouble finding replacements.

Rancher Won’t Use Anything But ‘Big Wonderful Wyoming’ Mud Flaps, Can’t Find More

A Sheridan-area rancher is on a quest for “Big Wonderful Wyoming” mudflaps — and won’t use anything else on the ranch’s trucks. “I’ll order eight sets of them,” she told a Wyoming auto parts dealer.

Mark HeinzMay 11, 2026

Firefighting crews pour water on the Old Faithful Snowlodge in Yellowstone National Park in summer 1988.

No Winter, Drought Has Firefighters On Alert For Repeat Of 1988 Yellowstone Fires

After winter essentially didn’t come to Wyoming, and drought and rising temperatures persist across the region, there are concerns the 2026 fire season could be like 1988 all over again. "It’s spooky,” said the Greater Yellowstone Fire Action Network.

Mark HeinzMay 10, 2026

Game and fish says that drought has led to the decline of the once-legendary trout fishery in Soda Lake near Pinedale. Avid Wyoming fishermen contend that a Game and Fish wetlands project is to blame.

Some Claim Wyoming Game And Fish Project Caused Nosedive Of Trout In Soda Lake

There’s widespread consensus that the glory days of trout fishing at Soda Lake near Pinedale are over, but there's disagreement over why. Avid anglers in the area blame a Game and Fish wetlands project while the department says drought is to blame.

Mark HeinzMay 10, 2026

When elk are infected with mange, they can suffer dry, crusty skin and massive hair loss. It can weaken them to the point of dying from exposure or starvation.

Hunters And Outfitters Say There's Been A Surge Of Mange In Elk In Montana

Hunters and outfitters in southwest Montana claim there’s been a surge of mange in elk. They say the disease has been spreading as elk crowd together around haystacks or alfalfa fields on private land.

Mark HeinzMay 10, 2026

The Belvoir Ranch west of Cheyenne offers some of the most spectacular views in southeast Wyoming.

Most Scenic Parts Of Belvoir Ranch Still Difficult To Access Due To Railroad

As the famed Belvoir Ranch west of Cheyenne comes closer to opening to the public on July 1, critics say the best part of the 19,000-acre recreation paradise is hard to access because of Union Pacific. It's like "The Great Wall of China," the mayor said.

Mark HeinzMay 09, 2026

Other Authors

This grizzly bear was photographed Wednesday in Glacier National Park, roughly 15 miles from where the body of a suspected fatal grizzly attack victim was found that same day.

Montana Suspected Fatal Grizzly Attack Happened Same Day As Yellowstone Mauling

A suspected fatal grizzly attack in Glacier National Park is thought to have happened the same day two brothers were mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone. Outdoorsman say the attacks are the beginning of “human-bear conflict season."

Mark HeinzMay 08, 2026

A day after two brothers were mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone, a dimwitted tourist was spotted five feet from a bear taking video on his phone. Retired biologist Gary Gaston said the scene was “so absurd” he had to leave.

Day After Grizzly Attack, Dimwitted Tourist Takes Video Of Bear From 5 Feet Away

A day after two brothers were mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone, a dimwitted tourist was spotted five feet from a bear taking video on his phone. Retired biologist Gary Gaston said the scene was “so absurd” he had to leave.

Mark HeinzMay 08, 2026

To nab trespassers hunting shed antlers on a ranch in Hot Springs County, Game and Fish put tracking devices in antlers and planted them around the ranch. The first one was picked up by a local 7-year-old boy, which got his father a ticket.

Man Cited For Trespass After 7-Year-Old Son Grabs Antlers With Tracking Device

To nab trespassers hunting shed antlers on a ranch in Hot Springs County, Game and Fish put tracking devices in antlers and planted them around the ranch. The first one was picked up by a local 7-year-old boy, which got his father a ticket.

Mark HeinzMay 08, 2026

 Beryl, a popular grizzly in Yellowstone National Park, is pictured here with her two cubs, about age 3.5 years.

Yellowstone Grizzly Still Has Cubs With Her Past Age 3, When Most Leave At 2

A popular female grizzly called Beryl in Yellowstone still has two cubs with her that are roughly 3.5 years old, and nearly as big as her. Most cubs leave around age 2, but "it’s nearly impossible to explain why” some stay longer, says a bear biologist.

Mark HeinzMay 07, 2026

This grizzly bear was one of several bears and wolves that gathered around a bison carcass in the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. Park rangers had to shut the area down Tuesday, because tourists were crowding the predators.

Day After Bear Attack, Rangers Yelled At By Tourists Too Close To Grizzlies

The day after two hikers were mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone, tourists yelled at rangers who were warning them to get away from grizzlies and wolves. “They were just walking right up to them," said a Park Service biologist.

Mark HeinzMay 07, 2026

A grizzly bear appears to be smacking a wolf in this image. However, Julie Argyle said the angle from which the took the photo just makes it look that way. The bear and wolf never made actual contact as they fought over a bison carcass.

Grizzly Roars Echo As Bear, Wolf Clash Over Yellowstone Bison Carcass

The roars of a grizzly echoed from a riverbank in Yellowstone National Park on Sunday, as it postured with a wolf over a bison carcass. A biologist said actual fights between the species are rare because neither wants to risk injury.

Mark HeinzMay 05, 2026

A pair of coyotes ran off a young grizzly bear after it apparently got too close to the coyotes’ den with pups in it in Yellowstone National Park.

Bold Yellowstone Coyotes Charge Grizzly That Got Too Close To Their Pup Den

A grizzly bear chased by a pair of coyotes seemed so unlikely, even those watching weren’t sure they believed it. This bear got too close to their den of pups, which motivated them to be aggressive with a predator that could have torn them apart.

Mark HeinzMay 04, 2026

Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents used a taser to subdue a deer that had its antlers entangled in playground equipment. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department uses the same technique.

Game Agents Use Tasers To Subdue Animals, But Don’t Try It On A Charging Grizzly

When animals become stuck or get ornery with people, wildlife agents reach for Tasers to subdue them. But one thing they don't do is use them on charging grizzlies as the odds of landing an effective hit would be astronomical. "It would get you mauled," one biologist said.

Mark HeinzMay 03, 2026

“Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again” makes for a great pro-gun novelty sign, but such messages could open firearms owners to liability or theft, experts say.

Signs About Shooting Trespassers Good For Laughs, But Also Could Lead To Trouble

Novelty signs that say things like “trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again” are good for laughs in gun-friendly Wyoming. But legal authorities say prosecutors could use the sign to allege the shooter had a predisposition to violence.

Mark HeinzMay 03, 2026

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