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
Now There's A Movement To Ban Campfires
Believe it not, there's a growing movement among some outdoors-people to ban campfires. They say campfires cause too many wildfires, prompt folks to take too much dead wood from the forests and cause cancer.
Mark HeinzMay 27, 2023
Game And Fish Kills Black Bear In Sheridan After Its Second Food Raid Through Town
Wyoming Game and Fish agents killed a 6-year-old female black bear in Sheridan on Friday morning. The bear had been captured and removed from Sheridan once before.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2023
Don’t Worry, Procrastinators, Wyoming State Parks Still Have Memorial Day Campsites Available
As camping season kicks off over Memorial Day Weekend, Wyoming’s state parks should be busy, but not overrun — and it's not too late to get a spot.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2023
In Wake Of Horrible Winterkill And Antelope Pneumonia Outbreak, Even More Wyoming Hunting Tags Cut
After previously cutting about 10,000 antelope tags, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has opted to cut more, even as the hunting license application deadline looms. Some Wyoming outdoorsmen said they support the move.
Mark HeinzMay 26, 2023
Federal Court Ruling Saves Up To 72 Wyoming Grizzlies From Death
As many as 72 bears in the Upper Green River region near Pinedale are safe — for now. A federal court ruled Thursday that U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service violated federal law when it authorized killing the bears to protect grazing leases.
Mark HeinzMay 25, 2023
Pilot Who Used Helicopter To Access Elk Hunting Might Testify About Harassment In ‘Corner Crossing’ Civil Trial
A Colorado pilot claims he was confronted by the owners of the Iron Bar Ranch after he used a helicopter to fly over the property to hunt on adjacent public land. He might be called as a defense witness in the “corner crossing” lawsuit against four hunters.
Mark HeinzMay 25, 2023
Plan To Delist Grizzlies In Wyoming, Elsewhere Still On Track As Bears Continue To Spark Political Debate
Despite ongoing political controversy and legal action, a plan to delist grizzly bears from endangered species protection in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho should still be on track, one former top Interior official said.
Mark HeinzMay 24, 2023
Wyoming’s Rangelands Could Become A Lightning-Fueled Tinderbox This Fire Season, Firefighters Say
Just how bad the fire season could get across Wyoming’s vast rangelands this summer and fall isn’t clear. It all depends on the volatile mix of dry grass and lightning, say state wildfire experts.
Mark HeinzMay 24, 2023
Wyoming Gun Owners Not Covered By Injunction Halting Pistol Brace Restrictions
An injunction in Texas on the restriction of pistol braces for certain AR-15s and other popular firearms doesn’t cover Wyoming gun owners.
Mark HeinzMay 23, 2023
Colorado River Deal Helps — For Now — But Anything Past 2026 Still Uncertain
A deal struck between California, Arizona and Nevada to trim their use of Colorado River water over the next three years is a good “short-term” move, but longer-term solutions may remain evasive.
Mark HeinzMay 23, 2023
Grizzly 399’s Cub Not Likely To Get A Number Like Its Famous Mom; Public Undecided On A Name
Only bears collared for research get numbers, which means Grizzly 399’s cub may not be assigned a number like its mother. That will leave naming the cub up to the public, which still seems undecided.
Mark HeinzMay 23, 2023
With Raging Wildfires Already Occurring In Canada, Is Wyoming Heading For Monster Fire Season?
Despite an early start to the wildfire season in Canada, Wyoming may be spared from a bad fire season due to shifts to an El Niño weather pattern
Mark HeinzMay 22, 2023
Facing Off Against Wyoming’s Dreaded ‘Robo Bear’ Is Trickier Than You Might Think
Cowboy State Daily outdoors reporter Mark Heinz and columnist Bill Sniffin survived grizzly attacks this weekend — sort of. They faced off against Wyoming’s dreaded robotic grizzly bear.
Mark HeinzMay 22, 2023
Wyoming’s Wild Mustangs Live Quietly On Open Range, Oblivious To Raging Controversy Over Their Existence
U.S. Highway 287 near Jeffrey City is pure Wyoming: isolated, with only sparse traffic and vast vistas stretching impossibly far on either side. On a sunny day last week, that quiet was interrupted by an unmistakable sound: The thunder of hooves.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2023
Riverton Bladesmith Ed Fowler Crafts Custom Made Knives That Are Among The Best In The World
Riverton bladesmith Ed Fowler is a world class knife-maker. His custom-made knives, made from raw steel, sell for more than $2,000 each. Next month, he's taking 14 of his creations to the nation's largest and most prestigious knife show in Atlanta.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2023
After Wyoming Says No To Giving Wolves To Colorado, Montana And Idaho May Also Refuse
Colorado still needs wolves for its planned reintroduction program, and after having getting a solid “no” from Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, it’s not looking like Montana or Idaho will provide any of their wolves either.
Mark HeinzMay 21, 2023
‘Rowdy,’ ‘Miracle' and 'Tuxedo’: Internet Abuzz With Picks To Name Teton Park's Grizzly 399's Newest Cub
“Rowdy,” “Miracle," "Tuxedo" and "Pearl" are just some of the suggested names for Grizzly 399’s new cub.
Mark HeinzMay 19, 2023
Bear Expert Believes Grizzly 399 Should Live Long Enough To Raise Her New Cub
At age 27, Grizzly 399 might be the oldest grizzly momma on record, and one bear expert is confident that she’ll live at least two more years, long enough to raise her new cub to independence.
Mark HeinzMay 18, 2023
Casper Mountaineer Abandons Everest Conquest Due To Mob Scene On Mountain, Many Deaths
Mount Everest was such a mob scene, and so many people had died already that Wyoming mountaineer Dr. Joe McGinley of Casper told Cowboy State Daily he decided to turn back a few thousand feet from the summit.
Mark HeinzMay 17, 2023
Grizzly 399 Lives! And She's Got A New Cub!
The world's most famous bear, Grizzly 399, emerged from hibernation Tuesday with one cub. At age 27, she’s now the oldest grizzly mama on record.
Mark HeinzMay 17, 2023
Wyoming’s Wolves Have Thrived Above Expectations For More Than Two Decades
Wyoming has maintained a wolf population above federal expectations for more than two decades, according to a recent report from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and other wildlife agencies.
Mark HeinzMay 16, 2023