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
Locals Say 88-Unit Apartment Building In Downtown Laramie Would Ruin Historic Vibe
A proposed five-story, 88-unit apartment building in downtown Laramie has the city abuzz with controversy. Supporters say it will provide sorely needed housing. Opponents say it will hog parking spaces and ruin the historic vibe.
Mark HeinzMay 02, 2024
In First Video Of The Season, Grizzly 399 And Super-Sized Cub Look ‘Gorgeous’
Using a spotting scope from several hundred yards away, wildlife photographer Ryan Kempfer caught the first video of the year of Grizzly 399 and her gigantic cub on Tuesday. Both were looking "gorgeous," he said.
Mark HeinzMay 01, 2024
'Dirtbag' Thief Caught On Video Stealing Shed Antlers From Wyoming Yard
Two hours before the opening of shed antler hunting season in much of Wyoming early Wednesday, a security cam captured footage of a thief stealing several antlers from a yard in Casper. One seasoned shed hunter says stealing antlers is a “dirtbag” move.
Mark HeinzMay 01, 2024
Accused Wolf Abuser Earned $120,000 From Contracts With Wyoming Agencies
A Daniel man who allegedly tortured and killed a wolf has had numerous trucking contracts with two Wyoming state agencies, earning about $120,000. It’s uncertain whether he will do any more work for either agency.
Mark HeinzMay 01, 2024
Hunters Livid Over Apparent ‘Thrill Killing’ Of Wyoming Elk Left To Rot
Three elk that were apparently illegally shot and left to rot in a remote section of Campbell County this month were part of one of Wyoming’s few plains elk herds, making the poaching that much more enraging for legal elk hunters.
Mark HeinzApril 30, 2024
Before Grizzly 399, Scarface Was One Of Wyoming's Most Famous Bears
Though his fame was eventually eclipsed by Grizzly 399, a big Yellowstone bear named Scarface, who got his name from battles with other grizzlies, was a legend in his time. The way he died, however, is still a source of controversy.
Mark HeinzApril 30, 2024
Man Accused Of Drunk-Kicking Bison Sets Off Yellowstone’s Animal Attack Season
Tourist season has begun! The National Park Service on Monday announced the first bison attack of the season. An Idaho man displayed “Darwin Award”-level stupidity when he allegedly kicked a bison last week while drunk.
Mark HeinzApril 29, 2024
The Creative, Fun And Slightly Twisted ‘Rogue Taxidermy’ Movement
A dollhouse built into the cavity of a deer is an example of the creative and slightly twisted “rogue taxidermy” movement. It involves turning taxidermy mounts into clocks, pieces of furniture, vehicles and other things.
Mark HeinzApril 27, 2024
Man Who’s Spent 18 Years In A Horse-Drawn Wagon Is Rolling Across Wyoming Again
A man calling himself Lee The Horselogger has lived on the road in a horse-drawn wagon for 18 years. He's making his way across Wyoming again on his fifth trip across America. Cowboy State Daily caught up with him near Hanna.
Mark HeinzApril 27, 2024
Wyoming Deputy Has Rare Encounter With Grizzly Near Kemmerer
A Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy caught a rare glimpse of a grizzly near Kemmerer on Thursday afternoon -- far south from where grizzlies typically range. The sighting fits a wider pattern of the bears ranging far from their core habitat in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
Mark HeinzApril 26, 2024
Feds Approve Grizzlies Back In Washington State, Wyoming Bears Could Be Used
Some of Wyoming’s grizzly bears will likely end up going to Washington state’s North Cascades after the federal government this week approved a reintroduction program there. Washington locals already hate the idea.
Mark HeinzApril 26, 2024
Wyoming Outdoorsmen Praise New Laser-Guided, Flamethrowing Robot Dog
Need more firepower and have about $9,500 to spare? A pair of Wyoming outdoorsmen believe that a laser-guided flamethrower robot dog is the greatest thing you never knew you needed.
Mark HeinzApril 26, 2024
Colorado Wolves Expand Range, May Already Be Crossing Into Wyoming
Tracking data for Colorado’s reintroduced wolves shows them possibly wandering right up to the Wyoming state line, but it’s not confirmed whether any have crossed over.
Mark HeinzApril 25, 2024
Despite Online Hype, Nobody In Wyoming Has Caught ‘Zombie Deer Disease’
“Zombie deer disease” is a hyped-up term for chronic wasting disease, which has infected some Wyoming wildlife herds. And despite recent hyped-up reports about humans catching it and turning into zombies, nobody in Wyoming has.
Mark HeinzApril 24, 2024
New Study In Journal Of Zoology Says Sasquatch Sightings Are Likely Just Bears
A new scientific study sadly announced that Bigfoot is probably not real. The Journal Of Zoology reported that when black bear populations increase in an area, so do the number of people reporting they saw a Sasquatch.
Mark HeinzApril 24, 2024
Bear Cubs Whoop It Up On Ladder At Ski Resort Gondola Tower
It might have seemed odd and even dangerous watching video of a trio of black bear cubs that climbed a massive gondola tower at Steamboat ski resort in northwest Colorado on Saturday, but the bears were just having fun.
Mark HeinzApril 23, 2024
Elk Hunting In Wyoming’s Remote ‘Little Siberia’ Might Help Trim Herds
For Wyoming hunters, the acquisition of a $2.3 million piece of the Mule Creek Ranch will get them access to an area of Albany County teeming with elk. Two hours from anywhere, it's located in a stretch of mind-boggling vastness that locals call “Little Siberia.”
Mark HeinzApril 22, 2024
She’s Awake! Grizzly 399 And Gigantic Cub Emerge From Hibernation
The world’s most famous bear, Wyoming’s grizzly 399, along with her gigantic cub Spirit, have emerged from hibernation and were spotted briefly Sunday night in a confirmed sighting.
Mark HeinzApril 22, 2024
Mama Horse Stands Up To Wolf Trying To Kill Her Baby
For ranchers Gabby and Cole Thoreson, their timing couldn’t have been better. They went to check on their horses just in time to see one of their mares engaged in a tense standoff with a wolf that was apparently trying to kill her young foal.
Mark HeinzApril 21, 2024
Transylvania Is Famous For Vampires, But Also Has Lots Of Grizzlies And Wolves
Krisztina Gayler has a long history of ranching in grizzly and wolf country on two continents. She grew up on a ranch in Hungary and came to the U.S. in 2005. She maintains strong ties with ranchers here in Wyoming, as well as in Hungary, Romania, and Transylvania.
Mark HeinzApril 21, 2024
Animal Forensics Expert Calls For Examination Of Tortured Wolf Carcass
A Wyoming animal forensics expert is calling for an examination of the carcass of a wolf that was allegedly captured and tortured in Daniel, but it’s not clear whether the carcass is still available.
Mark HeinzApril 19, 2024