Outdoors
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Wolf From Yellowstone’s Famous Junction Butte Pack May Have Been Poached
Another wolf from Yellowstone National Park's famous Junction Butte Pack killed in Montana is being investigated as a poaching, once again raising questions over wolf hunting near the park.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2026

Why Captive Animal 'World Records' Are Banned From Official Hunting Records
Images of elk and deer with freakishly huge antlers touted as a “new world record” frequently pop up on social media. But the highly respected Boone and Crockett Club says those are probably captive animals that can’t make the official record books.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2026

Rugged Electric Buggy Allows Disabled Casper Man To Hunt Wyoming Backcountry
Gerald Gay of Casper thought he’d never hunt off-road again after becoming partially disabled in 2016, but an all-terrain electric buggy has changed that. He says such vehicles could be a breakthrough for disabled hunters.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2026

Extraordinary Riverton-Based Search-And-Rescue Dog Needs $25,000 Surgery To Live
"Bueno," a Riverton-based search-and-rescue dog is no ordinary K9. He goes all over the country responding to disasters, including finding human remains after hurricanes. But the dog needs a $25,000 surgery to save his life.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 18, 2026

Oklahoma Bison Run Scared Of A 600-Pound Petting Zoo Pig
With their immense size and pugnacious attitudes, bison have few natural predators. Their natural enemies include humans, wolves, grizzlies, and a 600-pound petting zoo pig named Dot. “Dot ain’t scared of no buffalo,” the petting zoo owner said.
Andrew RossiJanuary 17, 2026

Avalanche Fatalities Keep Snowmobilers On Alert
Unseasonably warm weather created dangerous avalanche conditions in the Bridger-Teton region of Wyoming, with two avalanche-related deaths reported within a three-week time span, including a Utah man who was buried beneath his snowmobile under three feet of snow.
Kate MeadowsJanuary 16, 2026

Hageman To Nesvik: Grizzlies Need To Be Delisted Because They Keep Mauling Hunters
At a hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman told Fish & Wildlife Dir. Brian Nesvik that grizzlies need to be delisted because they are mauling too many hunters. Nesvik agreed and said he believes the grizzly population has recovered.
Mark HeinzJanuary 15, 2026

Yellowstone Coyotes Square Off In Aggressive Standoff Biologists Say Is All Show
Two coyotes in standoff over a bison carcass in Yellowstone National Park arched their backs, raised their paws and bared their teeth so aggressively it might be easy to assume they were ready to rip each other apart. Biologists say it’s all for show.
Mark HeinzJanuary 14, 2026
Geese Steal Osprey Nests, Forcing The Birds To Risk Electrocution
Canada geese sometimes hog elevated nesting platforms from osprey in Wyoming. So, the ospreys try building nests on powerline poles instead — and get electrocuted.
Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2026

Snowmobiler Rescued After Plunging Off Bridge And Landing In Frozen River
A 40-year-old Russian national who plunged off a bridge after his snowmobile collided with a guardrail is expected to survive after being rescued by a team of emergency responders on the Scenic Beartooth Highway near the Wyoming - Montana border.
Kate MeadowsJanuary 13, 2026

Young Jackson-Area Bear Still Out In January Might Be Confused By Warm Weather
A young black bear has caused a stir in the Jackson area, spotted still awake and running around in January. A local wildlife tour guide said it’s not unheard of, but the unseasonably warm weather may have confused the bear about when bedtime is.
Mark HeinzJanuary 12, 2026

Snowmobiler Dies In Avalanche Triggered In Wyoming Backcountry
A snowmobiler in the Wyoming backcountry southeast of Afton died Sunday after he and another rider triggered an avalanche that buried him about 2 feet below the surface and under his snowmobile.
Kate MeadowsJanuary 12, 2026

'It's Bad Stuff': Aftermath Of Huge Wyoming Wildfires Threatens Wyoming Mule Deer
As if Wyoming’s mule deer aren’t facing enough problems, invasive cheatgrass moving into areas scorched by Wyoming's huge 2024 wildfires is ruining their habitat. "It's bad stuff," one Wyoming rancher said, "I can't emphasize that enough."
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2026

Wyoming Hunter Bags Coveted Big-Game Trifecta, Including Huge Moose
Nate Miller beat astronomical odds to draw Wyoming’s coveted three-species “trifecta" hunting tag, then bagged a bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and moose. He joked about selling his hunting rifles, because there’s no way to ever top this hunting season.
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2026

In The 1950s, Bear Researchers Used Ether And A Football Player Who Wrestled Them
The pioneering days of bear research in the 1950s were not standardized at all. One capture team using ether-soaked cotton to put bears into a stupor and then had a college football player wrestle the bear.
Mark HeinzJanuary 10, 2026

Nearly 12 And Huge, Yellowstone Wolf 1090F Earns Title Of Oldest In Yellowstone
At the age of 11 years, 9 months, Wolf 1090F has earned the title of the oldest living wolf in Yellowstone, which is remarkable considering the average lifespan of a wild wolf is 5 or 6. Like other members of the pack known as Mollie’s pack, she’s huge.
Mark HeinzJanuary 10, 2026

Sublette County Deputy Busts Through Ice To Save Mom And Baby Deer
Sublette County Deputy Jason Overbaugh plunged into the icy New Fork River near Big Piney on New Year’s Day to rescue a trapped mule deer doe and fawn. Ally Cogburn spotted the struggling animals, and both survived Overbaugh's heroic effort.
Mark HeinzJanuary 09, 2026

Protesters Slap Stickers Over Trump's Image On National Park Passes, Voiding Them
The inclusion of President Donald Trump’s picture on 2026 “America The Beautiful” national park annual pass has made some people so livid, they’ve put stickers over the president’s image, which invalidates the passes.
Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2026

Wyoming’s New Deputy Game And Fish Director Is Former Controversial Colorado Chief
Former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis who was mired in controversy over its wolf program has been hired as the new deputy director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Davis resigned in Colorado instead of being terminated, according to a settlement agreement.
Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2026

Ice Fishing Season A Disaster So Far As Boysen Reservoir Still Isn’t Frozen
The ice-fishing season in Fremont County has been a disaster so far. Boysen Reservoir is nearly ice-free, and some recent days there have felt practically like summer.
Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2026

Group Says Colorado Coyotes Are Eating Pets Because There Are No Prairie Dogs
Prairie dog advocates in Colorado say coyotes are eating people's pets in Boulder County because prairie dogs are being relocated to make way for development. But officials say the area still has a healthy prairie dog population.
Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2026

Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby Cancelled Due To Lack Of Ice
The 42nd annual Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby, planned for Jan. 17-18, has been cancelled due to "very poor ice conditions." “There's no snow, with no snow cover, the little bit of skim of ice we get melts off in the sun," the chamber of commerce said.
Andrew RossiJanuary 06, 2026

Not Settled Yet: Wyoming Hunter Access Issues Will Likely Repeat In 2026
In 2025, hunters fought public-land access challenges in the courts and even by helicopter. While some legal issues about “corner-crossing” are settled, the tension over hunters accessing public lands remains into 2026.
Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2026

Home Generator Owners Say Peace Of Mind Is Worth The Investment
After a massive “state-of-emergency” power outage in Canada last week — on the heels of a massive outage in Wyoming — those who have invested in generators and other off-the-grid options say it's worth it. Others say they just hate power companies.
Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2026
