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
If A Bear Charges You While Skiing, Go Fast Or Trip Someone, Says Ski Instructor
Video of a bear charging across a Lake Tahoe ski slope on Sunday has a Wyoming ski and snowboard instructor advising a skier’s best options are speed, or putting a slower skier between you and the bear.
Mark HeinzDecember 12, 2023
Wyoming Ranchers Near Border Brace For Colorado To Get Wolves This Month
Some Wyoming and Colorado ranchers aren’t fans of Colorado’s plan to reintroduce gray wolves this month. It will harm big game herds and possibly threaten smaller, endangered Mexican wolves, they say.
Mark HeinzDecember 11, 2023
Wyoming's Grizzly Population Unlikely To Turn Into Inbred Redneck Hillbillies
Despite only receiving a few grizzly bears per decade in Yellowstone, Wyoming's grizzlies are not in danger of turning into inbred redneck hillbillies as the genetic pool is large enough where inbreeding is not yet a concern.
Mark HeinzDecember 10, 2023
Three Deer Running Around Sheridan With Christmas Lights In Their Antlers
Santa may have a bunch of flying reindeer, but the deer in Sheridan have the most holiday spirit – at least those three bucks that have been strutting around town with Christmas lights in their antlers.
Mark HeinzDecember 08, 2023
Wyoming Has About 15 Wolverines, But Good Luck Ever Seeing One
Wyoming wildlife officials estimate Wyoming has about 15 resident wolverines. Like Sasquatch, the tenacious creatures are so rare and elusive, even some biologist and devoted wildlife photographers have never actually seen one.
Mark HeinzDecember 08, 2023
Logging, Shutdown Of Snowmobile Trails In Snowy Range A Go
Logging in the Snowy Range Mountains, which will effectively close about 36 miles of groomed snowmobile trails this winter, is a go for Dec. 15.
Mark HeinzDecember 07, 2023
After Success Of The Squallet, Meet The RaccSack, A Backpack Made From A Raccoon
A Texas couple with strong Wyoming connections says the Cowboy State has embraced their redneck critter creations. It started with the Squallet, and continues with a raccoon backpack called a RaccSack and full-animal koozies.
Mark HeinzDecember 07, 2023
Transplanting Montana Grizzlies To Yellowstone Could Speed Up Delisting
Wyoming’s Greater Yellowstone grizzlies and Montana’s Northern Continental Divide grizzlies apparently aren’t co-mingling fast enough, so Montana plans to move some northern bears into the Yellowstone Area.
Mark HeinzDecember 07, 2023
Barrasso Blocks Attempt To Revive 1994 Assault Weapons Ban
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso on Wednesday quickly shut down an attempt by Democrats to revive the 1994 assault weapons ban. “I oppose any policies that jeopardize the Second Amendment," Barrasso said.
Mark HeinzDecember 06, 2023
Elon Musk's Cybertruck May Be Impressive But It's Not Truly Bulletproof
Despite Elon Musk’s claims that is Cybertruck is 'bulletproof,' there's no such thing as truly bulletproof, Wyoming ballistics experts told Cowboy State Daily. One former law enforcement officer said a .308 or a .300 Winchester Magnum would "go right through it."
Mark HeinzDecember 06, 2023
‘Messy Death Zone’ Near Kemmerer To Get $37 Million For Wildlife Crossings
Multiple wildlife crossings will be built on a 30-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 189 between Kemmerer and Evanston, which officials call a "messy death zone" for wildlife collisions. A $37 million federal grant will fund the crossings.
Mark HeinzDecember 06, 2023
Those Giant ‘Deer-Catcher’ Bumpers May Not Be Safer, Say Wyoming Auto Experts
Massive “deer-catcher” bumpers for pickups and SUVs might help lessen the blow of slamming into a Wyoming wild critter, but they can also create a false sense of security, automotive experts say.
Mark HeinzDecember 05, 2023
Retired Outdoors Officials Tell Gordon To "Exert Some Leadership" On BLM Plan
Five retired Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials sent a letter to Gov. Mark Gordon asking him to "exert some leadership" and bring civility to the discussion over the Bureau of Land Management’s controversial Rock Springs management plan.
Mark HeinzDecember 05, 2023
Wyoming’s Golden Eagle Population Doubles In Winter
Wyoming’s golden eagle population doubles during the winter, and conservationists hope that new mapping software can help protect them from getting killed by wind turbines and other hazards.
Mark HeinzDecember 04, 2023
Wyoming People: Amber Travsky — Cycling Guru, Black Belt, Biologist, Mayor
Wyoming native Amber Travsky is one of the state's most senior wildlife biologists, is a ninth-degree blackbelt in karate, is a founder of the Tour de Wyoming cycling event, served as mayor of Laramie and doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.
Mark HeinzDecember 03, 2023
Wyoming’s Outdoor Recreation Can Become An Economic Powerhouse
Outdoor recreation accounts for about 4% of Wyoming’s gross domestic product and has contributed $2 billion to Wyoming’s economy in 2022 and is set to grow. Nationwide, outdoor rec revenues top $1 trillion.
Mark HeinzDecember 03, 2023
Wyoming’s Snowy Range Still Has Prime Snowmobiling, Despite Logging
Although winter logging in the Snowy Range will take some trails out of commission, Wyoming’s prime snowmobiling should be disrupted too much.
Mark HeinzDecember 02, 2023
Story, Wyoming: Where The Whitetail Deer Nearly Outnumber People
Whitetail deer thrive and flourish in tiny unincorporated town of Story in Sheridan County. And despite them sometimes raiding flower beds, locals consider the deer part of the community.
Mark HeinzDecember 01, 2023
Good Samaritans Save Young Mule Deer Caught In Electric Fence
Two Wyoming men were driving between Dubois and Riverton on Saturday when they saw a young mule deer entangled in an electric fence. They quickly jumped out of their vehicle and saved its life.
Mark HeinzNovember 30, 2023
Wyoming Shooters Say Government Doesn’t Need To Meddle With Lead Ammo
Wyoming hunters and shooters are already choosing to switch to lead-free ammunition themselves, and say they don’t need it forced on them by government regulation.
Mark HeinzNovember 29, 2023
Hunting Wyoming: Platte County Has It All, But Access Can Be Difficult
Outdoors writer Mark Heinz is doing a series on hunting around Wyoming. In Platte County, there's an outstanding variety of big game and bird hunting, but getting access can be a challenge.
Mark HeinzNovember 29, 2023