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
With So Much Fentanyl in Wyoming, Even Game Wardens Packing Narcan
Fentanyl has become such a problem in Wyoming’s war on illegal drugs that Wyoming Game and Fish Department game wardens will start carrying Narcan to treat overdoses.
Mark HeinzJune 09, 2024
Wyoming Has Two Of The Three Remaining Animal Shelter Gas Chambers In US
Two of the three gas chambers in the United States still used for euthanasia at animal shelters are in Wyoming, one in Green River and the other in Evanston. And those who say it’s a cruel and inhumane way to dispose of animals want the gas chambers shut down.
Mark HeinzJune 08, 2024
After Wastewater Discharge, E. Coli Found At Some Boysen Reservoir Sites
The Wyoming Dept of Environmental Quality on Friday said there’s an “elevated risk of illness” from E. coli contamination in Boysen State Park after wastewater was discharged from the town of Hudson into the Popo Agie River last month.
Mark HeinzJune 07, 2024
Deer 255, Wyoming’s Famous Record Long-Distance Doe, Dies In Red Desert
After trekking untold thousands of miles back and forth across Wyoming on record-setting migrations and gaining worldwide fame, Deer 255 has died. The deer met her end in the Red Desert, likely taken down by a mountain lion.
Mark HeinzJune 07, 2024
How Eating Porcupine Brains Can Save Your Life When Lost And Starving In Wyoming
“Rabbit starvation,” or protein poisoning, is a real risk for people trying to survive in the Wyoming wilderness by eating only the red meat of what they catch. One expert says eating the brains of porcupines could save your life.
Mark HeinzJune 07, 2024
Yellowstone Says Grizzly With Five Cubs The Most Ever Recorded In Park
A spokesperson for Yellowstone National Park on Thursday said since records have been kept in Yellowstone, this is the first time they've witnessed a grizzly with five cubs.
Mark HeinzJune 06, 2024
Idaho Wardens Kill Bear In Crowded Park; Is Region In For Another Busy Bear Year?
There was trouble with black bears all over the Rocky Mountain West last summer and this year is getting off to an early start. Idaho game agents on Sunday killed a bear in a crowded city park. It could be an indication that this summer could be another doozy.
Mark HeinzJune 06, 2024
Holy Cow! Yellowstone Grizzly Has Five Cubs, Topping Grizzly 399’s 2020 Quadruplets
Among grizzlies, twin cubs are somewhat common, triplets are rare and quadruplets rarer still. That’s why a Yellowstone tour guide on Wednesday was so surprised to see a grizzly with quintuplets — five cubs.
Mark HeinzJune 05, 2024
Rare Wild White Bison Born In Yellowstone, Photographer Gets Photos
A rare white bison calf was born late Tuesday in Yellowstone National Park. A wildlife photographer originally thought it was a coyote until she looked back and saw the calf. "It was amazing," she said.
Mark HeinzJune 05, 2024
Two Children Stomped, Injured By Elk In Estes Park, Colorado
In separate incidents less than a week apart, two children were injured by irate cow elk protecting their young in Estes Park, Colorado. The town is overtaken every spring and fall by a massive elk herd with Wyoming roots.
Mark HeinzJune 05, 2024
Would Hunting Grizzlies Make Bears Fear Humans More?
While everybody agrees that Wyoming’s grizzly bears are intelligent animals, there’s a growing debate in wildlife circles about whether that means hunting them would make the bears fear humans more.
Mark HeinzJune 04, 2024
Boysen Reservoir To Be Tested For E. Coli After Dump Of 210,000 Gallons Of Wastewater
A discharge of 210,000 gallons of wastewater Thursday or Friday from the Hudson, Wyoming, treatment lagoons into the Little Popo Agie River, prompted the state to plan E. coli testing at Boysen Reservoir.
Mark HeinzJune 04, 2024
Having Grizzlies For Neighbors Just A Fact Of Life Near Cody, Wyoming
As Wyoming’s grizzly population continues to grow, they’ve become common outside of Cody. Famed outdoors writer Jim Zumbo says it's no big deal and going to an ATM in Denver is riskier than having a grizzly for a neighbor.
Mark HeinzJune 01, 2024
Standoff Over Wolf Torture: Locals Block Motorcycle Rally From Daniel Bar
Friends and family of Daniel resident Cody Roberts, who gained international exposure for torturing a wolf, lined up trailers and vehicles on Sunday so motorcycle rally participants couldn't hold a presentation in front of the bar.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2024
Motorcycle Rally For Tortured Wolf Rolls Into Green River, Wyoming
A national motorcycle rally held to bring awareness to the wolf torture and killing in Sublette County arrived at the Harley Davidson dealership in Green River on Saturday. The rally concludes on Sunday in Daniel.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2024
As Wyoming Camping Season Kicks Off, Popular Snowy Range Road Remains Closed
Jurisdiction over Boswell Road, a popular public lands access in the Snowy Range Mountains, remains murky and the road is still officially closed to the public as camping season kicks off in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzMay 25, 2024
Blasting Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ Doesn’t Scare Colorado Bear Out Of Tree
“Black bears don’t mind Black Sabbath” a Colorado wildlife agent quipped after a failed attempt to haze a bear by blasting it with the legendary heavy metal band’s classic anthem “Iron Man.”
Mark HeinzMay 24, 2024
Alaska Man Killed By Moose After He Tried To Get Photos Of Calves
An Alaska man was killed by a momma moose Sunday when he got too close trying to photograph her newborn calves. One of Wyoming’s premier moose photographers says he knows firsthand that the huge animals are nothing to mess with.
Mark HeinzMay 23, 2024
Grand Teton Mauling Ends When Grizzly Chomps On Can Of Bear Spray
The man attacked and mauled by a grizzly in Grand Teton National Park on Sunday was amazingly lucky. During the attack, the grizzly chomped down on his can of bear spray, which exploded it into her face and immediately ended the ordeal.
Mark HeinzMay 22, 2024
National Motorcycle Rally For Tortured Wolf Raises $100K As It Closes In On Wyoming
The Harley-Davidson dealership in Green River will welcome a national motorcycle rally called 'Hogs For Hope' on Saturday in honor of the wolf that was tortured in February. The rally will end Sunday in Daniel. It’s raised $100,000 so far.
Mark HeinzMay 22, 2024
Grizzly Mauling Wasn't A Tag Team Onslaught, It Was Likely Momma Defending Cub
Although talk of a terrifying grizzly tag team duo circulated the Internet, park officials say Sunday's mauling of a Massachusetts man was likely a mother grizzly defending her cub. The man is still hospitalized in stable condition.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2024