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
Bear Breaks Into 82-Year-Old Woman’s House In Colorado, Woman Comes Out Victorious
A black bear broke into an 82-year-old woman’s home near Trinidad, Colorado, late Friday and the two got into a shoving match before the bear gave up and ran away. It was the fourth bear attack reported this year in Colorado.
Mark HeinzAugust 14, 2023
‘High-Tech Rednecks’ Offer Access To Private Land For Hunting Thru Digital App
Casper-based Infinite Outdoors say they want to change the way people hunt in Wyoming by getting them on exclusive private properties at rates average folks can afford. They say their approach will help keep hunting from becoming a "rich man's pastime."
Mark HeinzAugust 13, 2023
Wyoming Has Too Many Elk, And Nobody’s Sure What To Do About It
There are way too many elk, particularly in eastern and northeastern Wyoming, and lawmakers, ranchers, hunters and the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish are in a quandary over how to handle it.
Mark HeinzAugust 11, 2023
Colorado Raising Gun Purchase Age To 21 Likely Unconstitutional, UW Law Prof Says
A new Colorado law raising the legal age to purchase a firearm in that state from 18 to 21 has already been blocked by a federal judge, and will likely be proven unconstitutional, a Wyoming gun law expert said.
Mark HeinzAugust 11, 2023
Montana Woman Says She Feared For Her Life During Otter Attack
A Bozeman, Montana, woman who survived a vicious attack by an otter while float tubing on the Jefferson River says she had a “this is how I’m going to die” moment.
Mark HeinzAugust 10, 2023
The Standing Dead — Wyoming’s Roadside Ghosts Forests Are Here To Stay
A pine beetle epidemic that ripped through Wyoming during the 2000s and 2010s have created roadside ghost forests in Yellowstone and just about anywhere else the Cowboy State’s roads wind through mountains with forested slopes.
Mark HeinzAugust 10, 2023
Man Holding Infant Walks Right Up To Yellowstone Bison
Despite recent bison gorings, a man holding a small child on Tuesday got dangerously close to a massive bison near Old Faithful.
Mark HeinzAugust 09, 2023
Ghost Guns Not A Real Problem, Says Wyoming Gun Law Expert
A national dust-up over so-called “ghost guns” is more about emotional reactions than a real crime problem, a Wyoming firearms law expert said.
Mark HeinzAugust 09, 2023
‘No Different Than Friggin’ Grizzly Bears’: Rancher Wants To Trap Wyoming Otters
Following a vicious attack by otters in Montana that left a woman hospitalized, it’s time to start trapping otters in Wyoming, a rancher said. But the Game and Fish Department isn’t ready for an otter season.
Mark HeinzAugust 08, 2023
Colorado Wildlife Agents Intend To Kill Bear That Bit Man’s Arm
Colorado wildlife agents on Tuesday are tracking and want to kill a black bear that bit a man’s arm while he was relaxing in a hammock over the weekend.
Mark HeinzAugust 08, 2023
Man Shoots Bear In His Living Room Near Wyoming
A Montana couple got up close and personal with a black bear that broke into their house last week. It ended up in their living room, where the homeowner shot it with a handgun.
Mark HeinzAugust 07, 2023
‘Surprise’ Grizzly Mauling Near Dubois Leaves Man Hospitalized
A “surprise encounter” grizzly mauling near Dubois early Saturday left a man hospitalized, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Mark HeinzAugust 07, 2023
Wyoming Scientists Skeptical Of Latest Hype Over UFOs, Alien Life
University of Wyoming astronomers said there is likely other intelligent life in the universe but the recent Congressional hearings don't offer much proof that there are space aliens on Earth.
Mark HeinzAugust 06, 2023
Karelian Bear Dogs Can Fend Off Grizzlies, But Are Also Friendly
Karelian bear dogs are trained to protect their owners from grizzly bears, but are also friendly enough to make good family dogs.
Mark HeinzAugust 05, 2023
Otter Attacks Women Tubing On Montana River, Sending One To Hospital
A vicious otter attack on a Montana river that left a woman gravely injured mirrors an otter attack near La Barge, Wyoming, several years ago.
Mark HeinzAugust 04, 2023
Vedauwoo Wolf Sighting Report Likely Legitimate, Biologist Says
A retired wildlife biologist said the reporting of two wolves in the Vedauwoo area between Cheyenne and Laramie is likely legitimate. He said the wolves are probably from Yellowstone or Colorado.
Mark HeinzAugust 03, 2023
Halloween In August: Cheyenne Fans Of The Spooky Season Get Early Start
For fans of Halloween, it’s never too early to start preparing for the spooky season, which began Thursday in Cheyenne with the annual opening of Spirit Halloween.
Mark HeinzAugust 03, 2023
Wyoming Rebuffs Feds That Hunter Education Is ‘Dangerous Weapon Training’
Potential cuts to teaching hunter education in public schools because they provide “dangerous weapon training” are wrong, misguided and would deprive Wyoming kids of valuable “life skills,” local officials say.
Mark HeinzAugust 02, 2023
Black Bear, Cub Killed After Attack Near Wyoming State Line
Game agents tracked down and killed a female black bear and her cub, after the female attacked a homeowner near Victor, Idaho, near the Wyoming state line. The incident mirrors dust-ups with black bears this year in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzAugust 02, 2023
Colorado Trail Pervert Has Wyoming Outdoorswomen Being Extra Vigilant
Wyoming hikers and trail runners are being extra vigilant after a hit-and-run sexual predator targeting women on some popular Colorado hiking trails remains unidentified.
Mark HeinzAugust 01, 2023
Feds Want To Kill Rainbow Trout In Popular Yellowstone Wilderness Drainage
The Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife plan to kill all the rainbow trout in the Buffalo Creek drainage just north of Yellowstone Park and replace them with native cutthroats.
Mark HeinzJuly 31, 2023