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
Unlike In Wyoming, California Ranchers Can’t Touch Wolves
California has a growing number of wolves, and they’ve been attacking cattle at such a rate that the state’s compensation fund for ranchers is running out of money. Unlike Wyoming, ranchers there can’t kill wolves.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2024
Wolves Could Stress Ranchers To Point Of Suicide, Colorado Lawmaker Says
A Colorado rancher and state lawmaker said Wednesday that last month's reintroduction of wolves in that state could stress ranchers so much they could be driven to suicide.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2024
After 20 Years, Trail System For 19,000 Acre Belvoir Ranch Near Cheyenne A Go
After 20 years of trying to provide public access to the 19,000-acre Belvoir Ranch west of Cheyenne, a $486,000 grant is providing the funds for the city to start building out a 6.1 mile public trail system.
Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2024
Feds May Want Grizzlies Introduced To Bitterroot Region But Grizzlies Not Interested
Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is testing the waters on a proposal to transplant grizzlies to the central Idaho wilderness, the grizzlies that already wander in there never seem to stay.
Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2024
Utah Town’s ‘WHOA’ Signs Show Cowboy Spirit, But Can't Happen In Wyoming
Alton, an ag/ranching community in Utah, has a lot of similarities to a Wyoming town, except for the stop signs. They have "WHOA" signs instead. It's a good idea but not allowed in Wyoming
Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2024
Minnesota Man Killed In Hunting Accident Near Torrington, Wyoming
A 19-year-old Minnesota man hunting near Torrington, Wyoming, was shot and killed while hunting Saturday afternoon. His death has been ruled an accident.
Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2024
Putting Grizzlies In Remote Bitterroot Area Could Be Key To Eventual Delisting
The federal government is considering reintroducing grizzly bears into the remote Bitterroot-Selway region of Montana and Idaho, which could be key to linking grizzly populations and lead to eventual delisting.
Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2024
Wolf Pack Takes Down Bison On Firehole River In Yellowstone Standoff
A pack of wolves had a deadly standoff with a lone Bison in Yellowstone National Park on Saturday, caught by a wildlife photographer. Yellowstone wolves are getting better at preying on bison, biologists say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2024
Wyoming Loves The 6.5 Creedmoor, Even If It’s The Nickelback Of Rifle Cartridges
The 6.5 Creedmoor rifle cartridge has been the butt of jokes and social media memes shared among hunters and shooters, but some Wyomingites say they love it -- kind of like the band Nickelback.
Mark HeinzJanuary 21, 2024
Even With The Risk Of Breaking Through, Wyoming Winter Anglers Love Ice Fishing
Angel Smith loves ice fishing so much that even a potentially deadly fall through the ice didn’t deter him from going back. Despite the harrowing experience, Smith said it gave him an opportunity to educate others.
Mark HeinzJanuary 20, 2024
Ranchers Want Bighorn Sheep Back In Rugged Central Wyoming, But Don’t Trust Feds
Wildlife advocates want to reintroduce bighorn sheep to the rugged Sweetwater Rocks area in central Wyoming, but area ranchers are worried federal agencies will use them to push livestock off public lands.
Mark HeinzJanuary 20, 2024
Elk Overrunning Town Of Lander; Game And Fish Letting People Shoot Some
Lander’s resident elk herd seems to have settled in, and in some cases, they are getting closer to houses. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is letting hunters shoot some of them to keep the numbers down.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2024
Sweetwater County Says BLM Land Plan Will Take Millions From School Funding
In 1,700 pages of commentary delivered on Tuesday, Sweetwater County officials said the BLM's controversial draft plan for the Rock Springs area could be devastating with millions of dollars lost for school funding.
Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2024
Yellowstone Visitor Captures Video Of Rare Arctic Air ‘Diamond Dust’
“Diamond Dust” – or glittering, frozen precipitation lingering in the air – is a rare phenomenon that occurs under extremely cold conditions when water vapor in the air freezes and very small water crystals are the result.
Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2024
Four Days Of Continuous Below Zero Temps Didn’t Kill Wyoming’s Pine Beetles
Although many areas of the state stayed below zero for more than 96 hours straight, it wasn't nearly cold or long enough to kill Wyoming’s devastating pine beetle population. In fact, Wyoming will probably never get a strong enough cold streak to eradicate them.
Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2024
Governor's Task Force Says BLM May Listen To Wyoming About Rock Springs Plan
A Governor’s Task Force charged with representing Wyoming interests on the controversial BLM Rock Springs Resource Management Plan finished its work last week and says it’s optimistic the BLM may be willing to change direction.
Mark Heinz & Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Hunters Worried As Huge Die-Off, Disease Decimate Wyoming Mule Deer Herds
Wyoming’s mule deer population plunged from an estimated 409,000 in 2017 to 243,000 in 2022, and last winter’s huge die-off and disease have further decimated herds, which has left many hunters worried.
Mark HeinzJanuary 16, 2024
Where Do Montana's Prairie Grizzlies Hibernate?
As Wyoming’s grizzlies do, many of Montana’s prairie grizzlies climb high into the mountains to den up and hibernate for the winter. But some prairie grizzlies stay in the lowlands, where they dig dens into steep riverbanks or hillsides in the badlands.
Mark HeinzJanuary 14, 2024
‘Assault Rifle’ Is A Real Term, But Misused To Spark Fear In Gun Control Debates
George Moscary, professor of law at the University of Wyoming and director of UW’s Firearms Research Center, said the term “assault rifle” has real meaning in the military sense, but in gun control debates is misapplied and used to evoke fear.
Mark HeinzJanuary 14, 2024
Colorado Range Scientist Says Wolf Reintroduction Will Be Good For Ranchers & Hunters
A range scientist in Colorado is claiming that wolf reintroduction will actually be good for ranchers and make things better for elk hunters. Further, he said Wyoming's hardline approach to wolves in some parts of the state is detrimental to overall delisting.
Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2024
Wyoming’s Famous Grizzly 399 Still Healthy As She Hits Ripe Old Age Of 28
Wyoming’s most famous bear, Grizzly 399, reached a significant milestone this month when she hit age 28, but she’ll have to last at least another six years to match the longest known lifespan of a grizzly in the Northern Rockies region.
Mark HeinzJanuary 12, 2024