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Juli Cook of Cody grew up in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park watching its famous wildlife. Now an emerging photographer, her debut book marries her breathtaking wildlife images and the stories behind the photos.

Cody Photographer Who Grew Up In Yellowstone’s Shadow Debuts Wildlife Book

Julia Cook of Cody grew up in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park watching its famous wildlife. Now an emerging photographer, her debut book marries her breathtaking wildlife images and the stories behind the photos.

Wendy CorrDecember 29, 2025

Sand Creek Road just off the Snowy Range Scenic Byway is hugely popular with local residents, and this winter it’s getting plowed. But only logging trucks are allowed on it, as in this file photo.

Snowy Range Residents Pleased Sand Creek Road Getting Plowed For Winter Logging

Many locals in the Snowy Range are pleased that a logging road is getting plowed this year even though they can't use it. Because of the "ghost forests" (massive stands of dead trees killed by pine beetle epidemics), they're just happy for the winter logging.

Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2025

Hunting in Wyoming’s grizzly country is intimidating, but with the right mentality going in, it doesn’t have to be terrifying. Overcoming that fear of getting mauled is a big part of hunting where grizzlies live.

Overcoming Fear Of Getting Mauled A Big Part Of Hunting In Grizzly Country

Celia Easton of Thermopolis said being attacked by a grizzly last October while she was elk hunting alone in the Beartooth Mountains has left her shaken. “Until you go through something like that, you don’t understand what it does to you,” she said

Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2025

Pear and cherry trees in Utah are covered with blossoms while lilacs in Colorado are blooming like it's spring in late December. Experts are concerned that the  warm, dry days are tricking trees and stressing them out. FILE PHOTO

Warm Winter Is Faking Out Fruit Trees, Forcing Blooms Like It’s Spring

Pear and cherry trees in Utah are covered with blossoms while lilacs in Colorado are blooming like it's spring in late December. Arborists are concerned that the warm, dry days are tricking trees and stressing them out.

Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2025

A team of French researchers published a study claiming teddy bears are too cute and cuddly to give children a realistic view of the apex predators, or nature in general. Bear experts in Wyoming laughed at the study and said that seems ridiculous.

French Researchers Concerned Teddy Bears Give Children Unrealistic View Of Nature

French researchers published a study claiming teddy bears are "too cute" and give children the wrong view of nature. Bear experts told Cowboy State Daily that if people are idiots around grizzlies, it's not because they had teddy bears growing up.

Mark HeinzDecember 27, 2025

The company proposing a 900-megawatt project at Seminoe Reservoir in Carbon County claims that restrictions aimed at protecting big horn sheep there will make it too expensive, driving costs up by $1.6 billion.

Company Says Protecting Seminoe Bighorn Could Add $1.6B To Power Project Costs

The company proposing a 900-megawatt power generation project at Seminoe Reservoir in Carbon County claims that restrictions aimed at protecting bighorn sheep there will make it too expensive, driving costs up by $1.6 billion.

Mark HeinzDecember 26, 2025

Tourists piling out of tour van parked in the middle of the road in Yellowstone National Park, which is against park rules. They also park in the flow of traffic.

Company Denies Claims That Yellowstone Tour Buses Routinely Block Roads

It's against the rules to stop in the middle of the road in Yellowstone National Park, but people do it anyway. Some claim big tour companies get away with it, but the park’s largest tour provider says that’s not the case.

Mark HeinzDecember 26, 2025

Unseasonably warm weather has kept some grizzlies out late, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re taking advantage of spring-like temperatures to go hiking.

Some Wyoming Grizzlies Still Out Roaming In Unusually Warm Weather

Unseasonably warm weather has kept some of Wyoming’s grizzlies out late, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re taking advantage of spring-like temperatures to go hiking. Normally, they’d be hibernating with full bellies by this time of the year.

Mark HeinzDecember 24, 2025

Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park has been active since its massive hydrothermal explosion in July 2024. It’s also “decidedly unpredictable,” erupting twice in two days last week, spewing mud and water 40 feet into the air.

Yellowstone’s Unpredictable Black Diamond Pool Erupts Twice In Two Days

Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park has been active since its massive hydrothermal explosion in July 2024. It’s also “decidedly unpredictable,” erupting twice in two days last week, spewing mud and water 40 feet into the air.

Andrew RossiDecember 23, 2025

Cooke City was “a magnet” for snowmobilers like Will Stroud, who travelled from Alberta, Canada, to experience the area’s legendary snowmobile terrain.

Lack Of Snow Cancels Yellowstone Snowmobile Tours, But Cooke City’s Been Dumped On

Snowmobile tours into Old Faithful were canceled for lack of snow, but Cooke City has been dumped on — and half the town lost power Friday. Through it all, one local turned his apartment into a makeshift restaurant to feed stranded riders.

David MadisonDecember 22, 2025

New research in Yellowstone National Park has found a connection between earthquake swarms and the chemical reactions needed to sustain subsurface microbial systems. It's an insight into the possible origins of life on Earth. Above is a view of Castle Geyser blowing off steam.

Study Reveals How Yellowstone Earthquakes Might Have Given Earth Life

New research in Yellowstone National Park has found a connection between earthquake swarms and the chemical reactions needed to sustain subsurface microbial systems. It's an insight into the possible origins of life on Earth.

Andrew RossiDecember 21, 2025

A cow moose that locals call “Big Betty” has been handing around Evanston. So far, she’s behaved herself, and wildlife agents haven’t been dispatched to catch her.

Urban Moose Named 'Big Betty' Seems Right At Home Wandering Around Evanston

A cow moose nicknamed "Big Betty" has been calmly wandering around Evanston, delighting residents and avoiding trouble. Wildlife officials say she is unusually peaceful, but still warn people to keep their distance.

Mark HeinzDecember 21, 2025

A cow elk viciously stomping a mountain lion, and her own calf, is indicative of the pressure Idaho elk feel from predators, a hunter said.

Cow Elk Stomps Mountain Lion In Desperate Bid To Save Calf

Caught between wolves, mountain lions and grizzly bears, elk are struggling to fend off predators. A trail camera video shows the elk's desperation as it viciously pummels a mountain lion that has her calf by the neck.

Mark HeinzDecember 19, 2025

Starlings fly in a tight, swirling pattern called “murmuration” over farmland north of Torrington.

Weird Bird Tornado Near Torrington Was A Wild Flight Of Starlings

A swirling “bird tornado” over farmland near Torrington turned out to be a flock of European starlings. While a sight to see, starlings are an invasive species in Wyoming that harm native birds and crops.

Mark HeinzDecember 19, 2025

Nearly four months after committee approval, U.S. Senate confirmation is imminent for Wyoming’s Brian Nesvik as head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sen. John Barrasso on Wednesday blasted Democrats for blocking Trump’s nominees.

New Wildlife Chief Brian Nesvik Says Grizzly Delisting Could Be Two Years Away

New U.S. wildlife chief Brian Nesvik told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that It could take another two years to work through an analysis of the data on grizzlies and reach a final decision regarding delisting. As for hunting, he said that would be left to the states to decide.

Mark HeinzDecember 19, 2025

A snowmobile chases a wolf across a snowy landscape in Canada.

House Bill Targets Wolf ‘Whacking’ With Snowmobiles On Federal Land

For the second time in as many years, a bipartisan coalition introduced a bill in the U.S. House to ban using snowmobiles to run over wolves and other predators on federal lands. The act was inspired by the alleged wolf torture in Wyoming in 2024.

Mark HeinzDecember 18, 2025

Hoback, a famous bull moose in Grand Teton National Park, was the first of the park’s moose to start shedding his antlers, on Dec. 10.

Beginning Of The End For Hoback, Grand Teton National Park's Most Famous Moose

Wildlife photographers say the reign of Hoback, the most famous moose in the Grand Tetons, could be coming to an end. Estimated to be around 18 years old, he shed his antlers early this year and is suffering from a recent wolf attack.

Mark HeinzDecember 17, 2025

Colorado is touting the Greenland overpass along Interstate 25 south of Denver as one of the largest wildlife crossings in the world.

Largest Wildlife Crossing In U.S. Opens In Colorado But Animals Aren't Using It Yet

Work is finished on what’s being touted as North America’s largest wildlife crossing bridge south of Denver — but it’s been so warm, animals haven’t started using it yet. The 200-foot-wide, 209-foot-long Greenland overpass spans six lanes of I-25.

Mark HeinzDecember 17, 2025

Outdoorsman Barrett Liquori uses a Springfield Hellcat 9 mm pistol to shoot off roughly half of a white-tailed buck’s antler to free it from entanglement with a dead buck’s antler.

Texas Hunter Shoots Buck’s Antler Off To Free It From Deadlocked Deer

A Texas hunter used his pistol to shoot off part of a buck’s antler and free it after it became entangled with a dead deer and was near death from exhaustion.

Mark HeinzDecember 17, 2025

Mist rises above ice floes on the Yellowstone River

Arctic Logjam Means Wyoming Temps In The 60s, Below Zero In Montana

While Wyoming is experiencing record high temperatures, it’s snowing and below zero in parts of Montana. Meteorologist Don Day says an “arctic logjam” is to blame.

Andrew RossiDecember 16, 2025

Male ruffed grouse attract mates by cupping their wings and flapping them rapidly, to create a “drumming” sound that can be heard a quarter-mile away.

When A Ruffed Grouse Starts Air Drumming, He's Looking To Get It On

When a male ruffed grouse is looking for some action, he doesn't put on a Barry White record while having some Courvoisier. Instead he begins air drumming by beating the air with his wings. It’s rare to catch them in the act, as one lucky wildlife photographer did.

Mark HeinzDecember 14, 2025

Ben McArthur of Casper and his son Mateo like filling their family’s freezer with elk mean from late cow elk tags.

Late-Season Cow Elk Hunts Fill Freezers But Test Hunters’ Grit In Wyoming

Elk hunter Ben McArthur said he appreciates availability of late-season cow elk tags in Wyoming as it's challenging. “It's fun because it matches up with holiday weekends. Weather conditions can be miserable, but if you get after it, you can be successful."

Mark HeinzDecember 14, 2025

A popular Yellowstone National Park grizzly called Ojo claws the brains from a bison carcass. He was one of four male grizzlies feasting on the carcass.

Why A Yellowstone Grizzly Eating Bison Brains Is So Interesting

Wildlife biologists say it's rare for grizzlies to eat from the head of a bison because it would be difficult to get through the thick skull. That's what makes the instance of Ojo, a one-eyed Yellowstone bear, eating the brains of a bison so unique.

Mark HeinzDecember 14, 2025

Pygmy Panther Trailhead.

The Legend Of The Little People Who Inhabit Wyoming's Pryor Mountains

Tales of encounters with the “little people” of Wyoming's Pryor Mountains aren’t limited to Native American lore. One professor said he knows several people in modern times who have seen the legendary creatures with their own eyes.

Wendy CorrDecember 14, 2025

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