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
Green River High Seniors Put Googly Eyes On Everything In School, Including Urinals
It's that time of year where high school seniors everywhere pull a class prank. In Green River, students have put googly eyes on everything. When the principal was told there was a miniature video cam on a urinal, he was relieved to see it was just a googly eye.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Wolf From Well-Known Grand Teton Pack Struck, Killed By Vehicle
A mature male wolf from one of Grand Teton National Park’s well-known packs was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday, the Park Service confirmed Monday.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Windstorms Leave Wyoming Backcountry Trails A Mess Of Fallen Trees
On some of southeast Wyoming’s popular hiking and biking trails, a chainsaw — or at least an axe — might be standard equipment. Trees blown over by recent severe windstorms have turned trails into an absolute mess.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024
Out-Of-State Man Survives Attack By 2 Wyoming Grizzlies
An attack prompted by a “surprise encounter” with two grizzly bears Sunday in the Signal Mountain area of Grand Teton National Park left a 35-year-old man hospitalized in stable condition.
Mark HeinzMay 20, 2024
Many Washington State Locals Not Thrilled With Grizzly Reintroduction
Many locals in Washington State's North Cascades region aren't thrilled with the idea of grizzlies being reintroduced in the area. The grizzlies, some likely from Wyoming, could be helicoptered in as soon as this year.
Mark HeinzMay 19, 2024
Wyoming Man Vows To Dance At His Wedding Despite Serious Injuries From ATV Crash
Although he's hospitalized and still unable to move his arms, Cody's Skylar Peterson is vowing to dance with his future wife Sydnie at their wedding on August 10. Peterson was severely injured in an ATV crash earlier this month.
Mark HeinzMay 19, 2024
Yellowstone's 11-Year-Old 1-Eyed Wolf Just Had Another Litter Of Pups
Wolf 907F in Yellowstone has lived an unprecedented 11 years, which is more than three times the average lifespan of a wolf. Along the way, she's given birth to multiple litters and lost her left eye. And she just became a mom again.
Mark HeinzMay 18, 2024
Yellowstone Grizzlies Observed Farther East In Wyoming — And Earlier
Grizzly bears are getting more common in the lower elevations as they push east out of Yellowstone National Park toward Cody. A visitor caught video of a grizzly lumbering along the shore of Buffalo Bill Reservoir last week during a snow squall.
Mark HeinzMay 17, 2024
Angry Snowy Range Ranchers Cut Off From Longtime Summer Grazing Pastures
Property owners along a now-closed Boswell Road in southern Albany County, Wyoming, are angry they’ve been cut off from their land and can’t build their homes or drive cattle to their longtime summer grazing pastures.
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2024
No One Mauled When Grizzlies Come Close To Tourists At Old Faithful
A momma grizzly and two large cubs strolled through the Upper Geyser Basin near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday. This group of tourists was well-behaved. As no one tried to pet or saddle the bears, no one was mauled.
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2024
Wyoming Legislative Group Will Consider Response To Wolf Torture
Legislators agreed Wednesday to study possible reform of the state’s wildlife policy in light of the wolf torture earlier this year. But one lawmaker urged restraint so not to "accommodate out-of-state people who don’t have much common sense."
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2024
Outraged Citizens Demand Response To "Psychotic Behavior" Behind Wolf Torture
After testimony Tuesday with Wyoming legislators and wildlife officials, it seems likely a bill will be introduced next session in response to the torture of a wolf in Daniel. We need laws “against this psychotic behavior," one citizen said.
Mark HeinzMay 14, 2024
Popular Road In Snowy Range Closes And Nobody’s Sure Who Actually Controls It
Boswell Road is a popular route for outdoors enthusiasts in southeast Wyoming’s Snowy Range but sections of it are now closed. Nobody seems to know who has jurisdiction over the route -- including landowner and former Gov. Matt Mead.
Mark HeinzMay 14, 2024
Fearless Wyoming Grizzly Powers Through Rapids After Gorging On Carcass In River
Wildlife photographers witnessed the sheer power and strength of young grizzly on Friday. After feasting on a carcass in the middle of the Hoback River, he fearlessly plunged into the churning rapids and powered his way to the shore.
Mark HeinzMay 14, 2024
Wyoming’s Famous For Its Iconic Pronghorn — But Don’t Call Them Antelope
Step into wildlife biologist Rich Guenzel’s office and there will be no doubt about his passion for pronghorn -- an iconic Wyoming animal affectionately known as “speed goats." Just don't call them antelope, unless you're looking for a brawl...
Mark HeinzMay 12, 2024
Fishing Wyoming: All The Trout In Albany County's Meeboer Lake Are Dead — Again
For the second year in a row, all the trout in Meeboer Lake west of Laramie died over the winter. Last year, a failed aeration system was to blame, but this year it was from natural causes. The suckers, however, survived just fine.
Mark HeinzMay 11, 2024
Hunter Wants ‘Wyoming Solution’ To Any Reform That Comes From Wolf Torture
In response to the torture and killing of a wolf in Daniel, a hunter from Dubois says Wyomingites need to reform hunting and animal cruelty statutes themselves instead of waiting for outside groups and the federal government to force change.
Mark HeinzMay 10, 2024
Famous Dog Trainer Plans Texas-Wyoming Motorcycle Rally For Tortured Daniel Wolf
Jonas Black, a dog trainer with millions of followers on social media, is organizing a 1,300-mile motorcycle rally from Texas to Wyoming in honor of a wolf that was tortured and killed in Daniel. He will donate all funds from the rally to wildlife groups.
Mark HeinzMay 09, 2024
Wyoming Couple Donates $350,000 To Target Pronghorn Recovery After Massive Die-Off
Wyoming has an estimated 382,000 pronghorn, more than any other state. But they suffered mightily due to the winter of 2022-2023 and herds have not recovered. A Wyoming couple has donated $350,000 specifically to help pronghorn recovery.
Mark HeinzMay 09, 2024
Laramie City Council Kills 88-Unit Apartment Building In Historic Downtown
Citizens cheered on Tuesday night after the city council voted to kill a controversial five story, 88-unit apartment complex in downtown Laramie. One councilman said he "would be run out of town" if he had voted in favor of it.
Mark HeinzMay 08, 2024
Are 350 Wolves Enough For Wyoming? Depends On Who You Ask
With roughly 350 wolves calling Wyoming home, the state’s wolf population is at “healthy levels,” according to Wyoming Game and Fish and a livestock industry spokesman said the current wolf management plan is working.
Mark HeinzMay 07, 2024