Outdoors
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On-Again, Off-Again Controversial Wyoming Mustang Roundup Off Again
The date for rounding up roughly 3,000 mustangs in the remote Red Desert keeps being set, then postponed, with summer 2026 being the latest projection. Horse advocates are trying to get the roundup shut down for good.
Mark HeinzSeptember 11, 2025

Game And Fish Wants To Protect Historic 'Path Of The Pronghorn' Migration Route
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Wednesday voted to protect a network of wildlife routes known as the "Path of the Pronghorn" between the Grand Teton area and the Red Desert as a protected migration corridor.
Mark HeinzSeptember 11, 2025

Young Male Moose Tries To Mate With A Wooden Moose In Montana
A male moose became infatuated with a life-sized wooden moose standing outside the Roosevelt Center in Red Lodge, Montana, on Monday. He liked the statue so much he tried to mate with it.
Andrew RossiSeptember 09, 2025

Body Recovered 420 Feet Deep In Jackson Lake Likely Kayaker Missing Since 2024
A body thought to be that of a man who went missing in June 2024 after an apparent kayaking accident on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park was found Sunday, at a depth of 420 feet.
Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2025

Wyoming Anglers’ Shift To Catch-and-Release Fuels Worry For Maimed Fish
The fishing culture in Wyoming has shifted from catching fish for food to catch-and-release fishing. That’s raised concerns about fish suffering multiple injuries from being hooked over and over again.
Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2025

Dimwitted Yellowstone Tourists Believe Angry Bison Was "Performing" For Them
Although tourists in Yellowstone laughed at an angry bison and thought it was "performing" for them, bison biologists say the "hopping" bison was building up for an attack, a turn that could have been tragic for the tourists holding their smartphones.
Andrew RossiSeptember 08, 2025

Dollar Lake Fire Takes A Run At Squaretop, Historic GP Ranch
Those in western Wyoming worried about the Dollar Lake Fire making a run at the state’s famous landmark Squaretop Mountain don’t have to worry any longer — it happened. It’s also threatening the Historic GP Ranch.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 08, 2025

Wyoming Old-Timers Say Hunting Ain’t What It Used To Be
Hunters of a certain age might wax nostalgic for a simpler time. Back then, hunting tags were readily available at the local store and knocking on a local rancher’s door and politely asking permission to hunt on his land usually worked.
Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2025

Wyoming Hunting: How to Haul Out Elk Meat
In Wyoming, hunters often kill their game miles away from their vehicles, so it takes a combination of skill, improvisation and pack goats to get the meat back. Knowing how to break down a carcass is just as vital as knowing how to bring an animal down.
Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2025

Yellowstone’s Next Eruption: Flow Of Superheated Ooze, Not Humanity-Ending Explosion
Good news! Scientists say the next time the supervolcano in Yellowstone erupts, it won't be a humanity-ended explosion. Instead, it's likely to be a massive lava flow of superheated ooze. Whenever it happens, it will be the first volcanic eruption in more than 70,000 years.
Andrew RossiSeptember 07, 2025

Thermopolis Claims 'The World's Largest Mineral Hot Spring’ — But Is It?
The Big Spring, the main source of Thermopolis's hot mineral water, has been called "the world's largest mineral hot spring" since 1900. No other place has challenged that, but scientists and Guinness World Records haven't confirmed it.
Andrew RossiSeptember 07, 2025

Wyoming Hunting 2025: Elk Plentiful, Deer And Antelope On The Rebound
The Wyoming hunting outlook for the 2025 season is excellent for elk, cautiously optimistic for mule deer and improving for antelope. But some prime hunting grounds are closed as crews fight a pair of large wildfires in the western part of the state.
Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2025

Why Wolves Sometimes Play Around Like Giant Puppies
Wolves in the wild can’t afford to waste time and energy. Even when they seem to romp and play — almost like giant puppies — there’s serious purpose behind it, wildlife biologists say.
Mark HeinzSeptember 06, 2025

One Man's Mission To Resurrect Wyoming's Aspen Alley
Dennis Faerber's mission is to restore Wyoming's famed Aspen Alley back to its full glory. Half of the trees on Forest Road 801 off the Battle Pass Scenic Byway in southern Wyoming were dead and another 25% were dying. So, they're starting over.
Andrew RossiSeptember 06, 2025

Western Wyoming Wildfire Threatens Famous View Of Squaretop Mountain
Residents of Sublette County are worried that views of Squaretop Mountain might forever be altered with the encroachment of the Dollar Lake Fire. The setting is one of the state's most recognizable landscapes, even once appearing on Wyoming's license plate.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 05, 2025

Dollar Lake Fire Burning Along Green River Lakes, Within Sight Of Squaretop
Steep, rugged terrain is slowing down progress for the more than 500 personnel fighting the nearly 16,000-acre Dollar Lake Fire about 40 miles north of Pinedale. It’s burning along the Green River Lakes and is within sight of Squaretop Mountain.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 04, 2025

Wyoming’s Zero-Tolerance Wildfire Policy Leaves No Room For ‘Let It Burn'
Wildfire can play a cleansing role in nature, but in much of Wyoming it is considered too risky to let it burn. That’s why agencies rush to put out fires as soon as they can.
Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2025

One-Eared Elk Named Van Gogh A Good Sign For Elk Hunting
A one-eared elk, nicknamed 'van Gogh' is one of many elk visiting an area with a webcam on a daily basis. The number of elk is encouraging to hunters as this area was wiped-out by the hard winter of 2022-2023.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2025

Wyoming Mule Deer Numbers Down, But There Are Monster Bucks For Hunters
Numbers in Wyoming’s mule deer herds are down but finally bouncing back after the horrific winterkill of 2022-2023. Even so, there are some monster bucks out there for hunters this season.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2025

Wyoming’s Vast Killpecker Dunes: Like Another Planet Where The Sand Sings To You
Spending time in Wyoming’s vast Killpecker Sand Dunes deserves a spot on anyone’s bucket list. It feels like visiting another planet — a place where the sand sings to you.
Bill SniffinSeptember 01, 2025

Don't Count On Your Dog To Save You From A Bear Attack
A prominent bear biologist in Utah studied more than 300 bear-human conflicts involving dogs in North America. 80% of the time, dogs didn’t respond to bears attacking their humans. In many cases, dogs “sat and watched" the attacks.
Mark HeinzAugust 31, 2025

E-Bikes Transform Wyoming Hunting, Spark Debate Over Backcountry Crowding
E-bikes are increasingly part of Wyoming's hunting scene. That means more accessibility for more people in the outdoors, which is both good and bad, depending upon the perspective.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025

Firefighters Once Blew Up A River To Save West Yellowstone From Wildfire
During the 1988 Yellowstone wildfires, Idaho farmers set up irrigation pipes to save West Yellowstone from the fast-moving flames. To move enough water through the pipes, they used explosives to blow a hole in the Madison River.
Andrew RossiAugust 30, 2025

'Breathtaking’ Images Of Leaping Mountain Lions Likely Staged In Game Farms
Majestic images of mountain lions leaping across gullies are most likely staged with captive animals. World-renowned Wyoming wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen is on a mission to end the game farms that abuse and exploit those wild animals.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025

Lower 48 Bears Are More ‘Grouchy’ And Prone To Attack, Biologist Says
A woman was attacked by a bear in Glacier National Park, Montana, this week — and experts say she’s lucky her hiking partner blasted it with bear spray. A biologist says bears in the Lower 48 are generally more “grouchy” than their northern cousins.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025

Gigantic Wyoming Ranch Once Got 57 Landowner Hunting Tags; Legislature Eyes Cap
A gigantic Wyoming ranch once got 57 landowner hunting tags even though each property is allowed just two tags. Legislators on Friday discussed a proposal to limit landowner tags to prevent properties from becoming private hunting clubs.
Mark HeinzAugust 29, 2025

Body Of Missing Minnesota Hiker Found, Recovered From Bighorn Mountains
The Big Horn County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday that the body of Grant Gardner, 38, has been found and recovered from Cloud Peak in the Bighorn Mountains. Gardner summited the peak on July 29, touching off an extensive 20-day search.
Andrew RossiAugust 28, 2025

Ending Roadless Rule Threatens Wyoming’s Hunting and Fishing, Outdoors Groups Say
The 2001 Roadless Rule applies to remote areas all over Wyoming, and the Trump administration might rescind it. Outdoors groups claim that could ruin prime hunting and fishing spots, while others say the rule has stunted proper management of forests.
Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2025

Colorado Shoots Mustangs With Birth-Control Darts, Why Doesn’t Wyoming?
In Colorado, volunteers shoot female wild horses with darts loaded with fertility-control drugs to manage herd numbers. Wyoming doesn’t, because its vast rangelands and huge mustang herds make birth control for horses impractical.
Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2025

‘We Can See The Flames’: Sleepless Nights As Wildfires Burn Within Sight
Even with cooler temperatures, higher humidity and rain, a pair of western Wyoming wildfires continue to grow. That’s causing sleepless nights for those nearby who “can see the flames” from their front porch.
Greg JohnsonAugust 26, 2025

Popular Hunting App May Not Keep You From Trespassing — Or Out Of Big Trouble
The GPS service onX Hunt is practically standard equipment for hunters, but its accuracy can be off by a few yards. That’s enough to potentially get users charged with trespassing — and into big trouble.
Mark HeinzAugust 26, 2025

Week Of Cool, Wet Weather Expected To Park Over Uncontained Wyoming Wildfires
Firefighting crews working a pair of uncontained wildfires in western Wyoming can expect some help from Mother Nature this week. Unseasonably cool, humid and wet weather will park over the fires through Friday.
Greg JohnsonAugust 25, 2025

Former Air Force Pilot Trades Military Missions For Slurry-Bombing Wildfires
Wyoming’s exploding wildfire season has multiple aircraft running from sunrise to sundown dropping huge volumes of retardant on them. Nick Dew is one of them, a retired Air Force pilot who now runs missions slurry-bombing wildfires.
Jackie DorothyAugust 24, 2025

Invasive — And Cannibalistic — Bullfrogs Are Taking Over The West
States across the U.S. West are declaring war on invasive bullfrogs that eat everything in their path — including other bullfrogs. In Wyoming, officials say they’re a problem, but prefer the public doesn’t hunt them.
Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 24, 2025

The Worst Smelling Place In Yellowstone: Calcite Springs, Where Sulfur And Oil Come Together
Calcite Springs, a thermal feature in the northeast corner of Yellowstone, is one of the park's lesser-known thermal features. It's best known for how awful it smells due to the molten sulfur and petroleum melding to form giant, putrid-smelling balls of oil.
Andrew RossiAugust 24, 2025

Star Valley On Edge As New Wildfire Burns Unchecked South Of Smoot
Another fast-growing wildfire has blown up in Wyoming, this time in Star Valley south of Smoot. The Willow Creek Fire has prompted evacuations and closed U.S. 89. Meanwhile, the huge 125,000-acre Red Canyon Fire is 75% contained.
Greg JohnsonAugust 24, 2025

Beef Tallow Is A Hot Skin Care Trend, But In Grizzly Country It Makes You Bear Bait
Beef tallow is gaining popularity as a skin care treatment, but slathering it on while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park or anywhere in grizzly country is a really, really bad idea, say bear experts.
Mark HeinzAugust 23, 2025

Desperate And Worried: Locals Watch As More Evacuated Near Dollar Lake Fire
All homes and campsites within a 5-mile radius of the volatile Dollar Lake Fire in Sublette County have been evacuated as the blaze continues to spread out of control along the eastern side of the Green River.
Greg JohnsonAugust 23, 2025

Dollar Lake Fire Blows Up To 10,000-Plus Acres, Bible Camp Evacuated
The Dollar Lake Fire north of Pinedale on Friday blew up to more than 10,000 acres, pushing south and forcing more evacuations, including an area bible camp.
Greg JohnsonAugust 22, 2025

Wyoming Bowhunters Say Archery Seasons Are All About The Challenge
Wyoming’s big game archery seasons are kicking off, and bowhunters explain the allure of hunting with one of the most primitive methods. While bows and arrows are now high-tech, hunters say archery seasons are all about the challenge.
Mark HeinzAugust 22, 2025

Huge 124,000-Acre Red Canyon Fire Remains Active, Nearly 50% Contained
Crews fighting the huge 124,000-acre Red Canyon Fire are reporting significant progress and nearly 50% containment. But it remains active and potentially dangerous, wildland firefighters report Friday.
Greg JohnsonAugust 22, 2025

Western Wyoming Lodge Owners Watch Campers Flee Out-Of-Control Wildfire
Owners of the Kendall Valley Lodge about 40 miles north of Pinedale watched as campers and residents evacuated the area in the path of the Dollar Lake Fire. Reported Thursday, they also watched it explode overnight from 20-30 acres to nearly 1,400.
Greg JohnsonAugust 22, 2025

Will Wolf Torture Felony Cruelty Indictment Spill Over To Wyoming Hunters?
Some worry that the felony animal cruelty case against Daniel resident Cody Roberts for allegedly tormenting and killing a wolf could impact hunters and agricultural predator control in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2025

Black Bear In Full Sprint Chases Down Mule Deer Next To Yellowstone Highway
In a dramatic display, a black bear in a full sprint chased down a mule deer doe Sunday in full view of the Sylvan Pass highway in Yellowstone. An expert says it’s rare for bears to chase down prey like that.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2025

Cold Front To Bring Relief For Wildfires, But First It Will Make Things Worse
Wyoming’s fire season is in full swing, and an incoming cold front is poised to potentially make things worse, temporarily. Then, it could make things a lot better: cooler temperatures, more humid air, and a higher chance of precipitation.
Andrew RossiAugust 21, 2025

Red Canyon Fire Burns Up Winter Forage, Leaving Ranchers Devastated
Ranchers in the path of the huge Red Canyon fire are watching helplessly as their winter forage burns up. That leaves them devastated and having to make heartbreaking decisions, like selling off their herds rather than watch them starve.
Jackie DorothyAugust 21, 2025

Search Suspended For Minnesota Hiker Who Disappeared After Climbing Cloud Peak
In a “heartbreaking” decision, the search for a Minnesota hiker who disappeared July 29 in the Cloud Peak Wilderness has been suspended. “We have to face the reality” that Grant Gardner’s odds of survival “have run out,” said the Big Horn County sheriff.
Andrew RossiAugust 21, 2025

Injured Mushroom Hunter Pulled Out Of Rugged Area In Medicine Bow Forest
An already-busy year for Carbon County Search and Rescue got busier Monday when a mushroom hunter became injured, stranded and in "severe danger" deep in the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2025

People Keep Seeing Cheyenne Dog Lost In Wind River Mountains, But Can’t Catch Him
Beo, a 7-year-old Siberian husky, has been missing since he crossed a river during a family camping trip in the Wind River Mountains on Friday. People keep spotting Beo, but haven’t been able to catch him yet.
Andrew RossiAugust 20, 2025

Bowhunter Out For Bighorn Stumbles Across Trophy-Sized Ram’s Skull With Intact Horns
In a fantastic twist of fortune, a Wyoming archery hunter was out to fill a bighorn sheep ewe tag when he discovered the skull and horns of a trophy-sized bighorn ram. It’s a rare “deadhead” find that most hunters dream about.
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2025

‘These Fires Are Such SOBs’: Weather Drives 127,000-Acre Red Canyon Fire
Temperatures nearing triple digits, near-0% humidity and erratic winds are why Wyoming wildfires “are such SOBs,” meteorologist Don Day says. That means fighting the nearly 127,000-acre Red Canyon Fire this week is “not going to be fun.”
Greg JohnsonAugust 20, 2025

Health Officials Still Looking For Lodge Guests Exposed To Rabid Bat Colony
State health officials are still looking for hundreds of people from 38 states and seven countries potentially exposed to rabies while staying at a lodge in Grand Teton National Park after a bat colony was found in the attic.
Andrew RossiAugust 19, 2025

Fatal F.E. Warren Shooting Further Hurts Sig Sauer’s Already-Damaged Reputation
The already-battered reputation of Sig Sauer pistols will continue to suffer in the wake of a fatal shooting at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, regardless of whether the pistol involved malfunctioned, gun industry experts say.
Mark HeinzAugust 19, 2025

114,000-Acre Red Canyon Fire Has Devastated Ranches, Livelihoods, Locals Say
Hundreds piled into the auditorium at Hot Springs County High School on Monday for their first meeting with officials fighting the 114,000-acre Red Canyon Fire. It was emotional, as locals related how their ranches and livelihoods have been devastated.
Jackie DorothyAugust 19, 2025

‘Pretty Damn Helpless’: Ranchers Work To Save Cattle, Land From Red Canyon Fire
The Red Canyon Fire burning east of Thermopolis has already consumed more than 100,000 acres. Generational ranchers in the path of the fire are working together to save their homes and cattle, even if it seems “pretty damn helpless” to stop it.
Jackie DorothyAugust 18, 2025

Wyoming's Red Canyon Fire Now 100,000+ Acres, Fire Emergency Declared
With the Red Canyon Fire burning about 11 miles east of Thermopolis exceeding 100,000 acres in size, Gov. Mark Gordon has declared a fire emergency, even as crews report it’s 28% contained.
Greg JohnsonAugust 18, 2025

Interactive Map Shows 790,000 Acres Of Public Land Eligible For Sale In Wyoming
The Bureau of Land Management has identified more than 790,000 acres of federal land in Wyoming as potentially eligible for sale or disposal. A new interactive map from onX shows where those parcels are, along with 6 million acres across 17 states.
Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 18, 2025
Aggressive Red Canyon Fire Closes In On 100,000 Acres, Still 0% Containment
The Red Canyon Fire continues to surge in multiple directions about 11 miles east of Thermopolis as it closes in on 100,000 acres burned. It’s also moving into Washakie and Fremont counties, prompting evacuation alerts in Fremont.
Greg JohnsonAugust 18, 2025

With Beaver Population Dropping In Wyoming, Artificial Dams Rise In The Bighorns
It is thought there are fewer than half the beavers in the Bighorn National Forest now compared to about 15 years ago, and to make up for their work, wildlife officials have built more than 150 artificial dams. It’s not clear why the beaver population is declining.
Mark HeinzAugust 17, 2025

Why Rabbits Are Growing Horns And Tentacles In Colorado
Images of rabbits in Colorado with horns and tentacles are making waves across social media, with many likening their strange look to that of Frankenstein’s monster or an undead zombie.
Jackson WalkerAugust 17, 2025
Red Canyon Fire Grows To Nearly 85,000 Acres, More Evacuations Ordered
A large, out-of-control wildfire “exhibiting extreme fire behavior” continues to grow in multiple directions about 11 miles east of Thermopolis. The Red Canyon Fire also has prompted more evacuations in its potential path.
Greg Johnson & Jackie DorothyAugust 17, 2025

Yes, Prairie Dog Hunting Guides Exist, And They Have A Robust Business
Prairie dog hunting isn't about getting a trophy animal to put on your wall. It's more about getting in as much shooting as possible. It’s not so much hunting in the traditional sense, as it is live target practice. That's why people hire guides.
Mark HeinzAugust 16, 2025

3 Wildfires Have Burned More Than 61,000 Acres In Bighorn Basin, 0% Containment
As of Saturday morning, a trio of fast-growing wildfires have burned more than 61,000 acres in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, with 0% containment on any of them. The largest is the Red Canyon Fire at 40,000 acrea, which has exploded on cheatgrass.
Greg JohnsonAugust 16, 2025

Wyoming’s Mountain Lions Can’t Roar Like African Lions, But They Can Purr
Wyoming’s mountain lions aren’t lions in the true scientific sense. African lions are classified among “roaring cats,” while mountain lions fall in the less glamorous-sounding “purring cat” category. And they do purr.
Mark HeinzAugust 16, 2025

Charging Grizzlies Spark Rare And Widespread ‘Bear Warning’ In Canada
For the first time in nearly a decade, a roughly 2,500-square-mile county in Alberta, Canada, has issued a county-wide “bear warning,” after numerous reports of people being charged by grizzlies.
Mark HeinzAugust 15, 2025

Out-Of-Control Red Canyon Fire Near Thermopolis Now Nearly 35,000 Acres
The Red Canyon Fire is burning out of control about 11 miles east of Thermopolis, blowing up to nearly 35,000 acres on Friday. Oil field workers saw the lightning bolt that started the fire, then could only watch it spread.
Greg JohnsonAugust 15, 2025

Wildfire East Of Thermopolis Explodes To 20,000 Acres, Prompts Evacuation
What was a small wildfire reported about 14 miles east of Thermopolis on Wednesday evening has exploded to an estimated more than 20,000 acres Thursday. The Red Canyon Fire has also prompted some evacuations.
Greg JohnsonAugust 14, 2025

Montana Outfitter Kills Grizzly, Fails To Report It And Faces $10,000 Fine
A Montana outfitter faces up to a $10,000 fine for shooting a grizzly bear while black bear hunting. A Wyoming hunter who went through a similar case said it can be incredibly difficult to distinguish between the two bear species.
Mark HeinzAugust 13, 2025

Campers Creeped-Out By ‘Weird’ Masked Bandit Around Campsite In Bighorn Mountains
A Sheridan couple was baffled and creeped-out by trail camera photos showing a masked bandit pilfering their campsite in the Bighorn Mountains over a four-hour period last week.
Mark HeinzAugust 12, 2025

Wyoming Mustang Named ‘Red Solo Cup’ After Toby Keith Song Up For Adoption
Wild horses caught in government roundups have better chances of being adopted if they’re trained first. That’s the hope for one Wyoming mustang named Red Solo Cup, after the popular Toby Keith song.
Mark HeinzAugust 11, 2025

Family Still Holds Out Hope For Minnesota Hiker Missing Since July 29
The wife of missing Cloud Peak Wilderness hiker Grant Gardner on Monday told Cowboy State Daily that she's hopeful his skills and abilities that "he's been honing over the last decade-plus will help him come home to us."
Greg JohnsonAugust 11, 2025
Move Over, Prairie Grizzlies, Here Come The Prairie Mountain Lions
Mountain lions are associated with, well, mountains. But they are increasingly reclaiming habitat in Great Plains states such as Nebraska and Kansas. That follows patterns seen from other species, like grizzlies expanding back into prairie areas.
Mark HeinzAugust 10, 2025

Why Trail Cameras Are OK For Hunting In Wyoming, But Live Feed Video Isn’t
As technology continues to redefine hunting, at least one matter seems settled: Trail camera photos and videos are legally and ethically OK to scout wildlife, but livestream video is not.
Mark HeinzAugust 09, 2025

Fishermen Outraged Watching Huge ‘Tonka Truck’ ATV Rip Up Montana Riverbed
A Montana fishing guide said he was outraged watching someone drive a huge “Tonka Truck” SHERP ATV right through a river next to him. The huge balloon-tired ATV ripping up the riverbed was illegal, and the driver may be cited.
Mark HeinzAugust 09, 2025

Wolves Might Have Saved Yellowstone’s Aspen From Elk, But Now Bison Are Eating It
Scientists say wolves helped save aspen trees in Yellowstone by eating the elk that were gobbling aspen saplings. But now bison are moving in on the aspen, eating it and knocking the trees over.
Mark HeinzAugust 09, 2025

Colorado Wildlife Agents Target Sheep-Killing Wolf That Might Be From Wyoming
A wolf that killed three sheep in Colorado is safe for now, as wildlife agents can’t go after it because of a wildfire. Meanwhile, locals say it’s a wolf that wandered in from Wyoming in February.
Mark HeinzAugust 08, 2025

Wyoming Ranchers Ask U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Wyoming Corner-Crossing Case
The Wyoming Stock Growers and other agricultural groups want the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a Wyoming corner-crossing case. They say the high court should finally settle whether corner-crossing is legal.
Mark HeinzAugust 08, 2025

Man Found Dead In Montana River Wrongly Reported As Hiker Missing In Wyoming
Officials are trying to squash wrong reports that a body found in the Bighorn River in Montana was a Minnesota man who went missing July 29 in Big Horn County, Wyoming. It isn’t, but the reports have rubbed at already raw emotions.
Greg JohnsonAugust 07, 2025

Third Colorado Wolf Wanders Into Wyoming And Dies
A third wolf reintroduced to Colorado wandered into Wyoming and died in late July, wildlife officials announced Wednesday. The female was one of the wolves brought in from Oregon in December 2023.
Mark HeinzAugust 06, 2025

Federal Judge’s Ruling Could Open Door To Putting Wolves Back On Endangered List
A federal judge’s Tuesday ruling could open the door to putting wolves back on the endangered species list in Wyoming and across the West.
Mark HeinzAugust 05, 2025

Family, Sheriff Hold Out Hope For Minnesota Man Missing A Week On Cloud Peak
If anyone could survive a week alone in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, it’s Grant Gardner. His wife Lauren said she’s still “in shock” over his disappearance, but holds out hope that her husband is still alive.
Greg JohnsonAugust 05, 2025

Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver Screaming At Each Other Keeps Wolves From Cattle
Oregon wildlife officials are using audio of actors Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver screaming at each other in the movie “Marriage Story” to scare wolves away from cattle. It seems to work, but isn’t very practical, a wolf expert says.
Mark HeinzAugust 05, 2025

Minnesota Man Got To Top Of Cloud Peak A Week Ago, Hasn’t Been Heard From Since
Multiple agencies haven’t given up searching for a Minnesota hiker missing for nearly a week in Wyoming’s rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness. Grant Gardner texted his wife when he got to the summit of Cloud Peak on July 29, and hasn’t been heard from since.
Greg JohnsonAugust 05, 2025

Shift In Timber Rules Could Clear Way For Revival Of Wyoming’s Lumber Industry
Wyoming’s few remaining lumber mills have struggled, but a shift in federal and state timber policy might change that. Trump has ordered an “immediate expansion” of timber production, and Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday ordered Wyoming to follow suit.
Mark HeinzAugust 05, 2025

Bears Are So Common In Colorado Springs They’re Climbing Out Of Manholes
A big male black bear that got stranded in the storm drains under Colorado Springs escaped by climbing out of a manhole. While startling, the incident also illustrates what wildlife officials say is becoming common in the city.
Mark HeinzAugust 04, 2025

Helicopter Called In To Rescue Injured Hiker In Rugged Carbon County Wilderness
More than two dozen volunteers, including a helicopter crew, mobilized on Saturday to rescue an injured hiker in the rugged Platte River Wilderness in Carbon County. Sheriff Alex Bakken complimented the effort saying in rural Wyoming, teamwork is essential.
Jackson WalkerAugust 03, 2025

Teton County To Recommend Renaming Mount Woodring On Monday
Teton County will decide on Monday to recommend renaming Mount Woodring to either Raven Peak or Equality Peak. The peak is currently named after the first superintendent of Grand Teton National Park.
Andrew RossiAugust 03, 2025

Wyoming’s Backcountry Lakes Are Stocked By Dropping Fish From Helicopters
In the pre-dawn darkness on Tuesday, a line of Wyoming Game and Fish Department vehicles rumbled into the Dubois Municipal Airport and parked next to a Robinson R66 helicopter. The mission? Stock 16 high-country lakes with roughly 40,000 fingerling-sized fish.
Mark HeinzAugust 02, 2025

Spotlight On ‘Everesting’ After Man Dies Trying To Climb Snow King Mountain 19 Times
The death of a 43-year-old man who attempted to climb Snow King Mountain 19 times is drawing the spotlight on an increasingly popular trend called “Everesting.” That’s trying to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest’s 29,029 feet in 36 hours.
Andrew RossiAugust 02, 2025

Lost, Young Wild Horse Tries To Join Up With Pronghorn Herd During Roundup
A young mustang briefly joined a band of pronghorn during a recent Wyoming horse roundup. Wild horse advocates say the colt was lost after being separated from his mother during a BLM roundup.
Mark HeinzAugust 02, 2025

Wildlife Agents Still Search For Whoever Poached A Park County Grizzly
Wildlife agents are still trying to track down whoever shot and killed a grizzly bear found dead in late May alongside a remote hiking trail in Park County. A bear expert says if the grizzly had been killed in self-defense, it would’ve been reported.
Mark HeinzAugust 01, 2025

Yellowstone Always On Alert To Avoid Repeat Of Devasting 1988 Wildfires
When it comes to wildfire seasons, there’s no forgetting the devastating fires that hit Yellowstone National Park in 1988. They burned 800,000 acres, which is why even small fires today get an aggressive response.
Andrew RossiAugust 01, 2025

Other Yellowstone Visitors Horrified Watching Man Walk On Grand Prismatic Spring
Other Yellowstone visitors were horrified Monday as they watched a man in flip-flops walking off the board walk onto the bacterial mats around Grand Prismatic Spring. He was picking up hats that had blown off people’s heads — and breaking the law.
Andrew RossiJuly 31, 2025

Lummis, Hageman Introduce Bill Targeting Endless Endangered Species Listings
Wyoming Republicans Cynthia Lummis and Harriet Hageman want to rename the Endangered Species Act the “Endangered Species Recovery Act.” It’s a reminder that species shouldn’t be listed forever if they have recovered enough for delisting, they say.
Mark HeinzJuly 31, 2025

Money Could Be Coming For Wildlife Crossings, Including $30M Project Near Dubois
A planned $30 million wildlife crossing near Dubois — which could save hundreds of deer — is on hold because of a lack of federal money. Supporters of wildlife crossings say that money could start coming soon.
Mark HeinzJuly 30, 2025

With 2 Wildfires Burning Near Ten Sleep, Town Becomes Ground Zero For Responders
With a pair of wildfires less than 15 miles from the town, Ten Sleep has become ground zero for wildland firefighting crews. Residents can see the smoke, and “at night you can see the orange glow,” the mayor says.
Greg JohnsonJuly 30, 2025

Anglers Upset Over Plan To Ban Boats On Wyoming’s Famed Miracle Mile
A proposal to ban watercraft on the upper stretch of the North Platte River’s Miracle Mile section near Casper is drawing fire from some anglers who want to kill the rule before Gov. Mark Gordon signs off on it.
Mark HeinzJuly 29, 2025

Teen Hiking Near Yellowstone Geyser Suffers ‘Significant Thermal Burns’
A 17-year-old tourist suffered “significant thermal burns” while hiking in the Lone Star Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park on Monday morning. He broke through the thermal crust and into the scalding water.
Andrew RossiJuly 29, 2025

Colorado Halfway Done With World’s Largest Wildlife Overpass Spanning I-25
Colorado is about halfway through building what officials are touting as the world’s largest wildlife overpass. It’s a $15 million megastructure spanning six lanes of Interstate 25 south of Denver.
Mark HeinzJuly 29, 2025

Floater And Fishing Access Fight Flares Over Channel Near Pinedale
Anglers and locals say a new landowner is blocking a historic channel connecting Pine Creek and the New Fork River near Pinedale, raising the temperature over public access and state law.
Mark HeinzJuly 28, 2025

Game And Fish Says Disease Caused Dozens Of Doves Drop Dead In Rock Springs
A lifeless dove found near a curb. Another beneath a tree. Then dozens more, mostly found within a tight radius of Rock Springs known as the “Tree Streets.” They died of a virus — not bird flu — Wyoming Game and Fish told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
Tracie SullivanJuly 28, 2025

18 Months After Name Change, Wyomingites Still Argue Over ‘Swastika Lake’
Nearly 18 months after Swastika Lake in Albany County was renamed Knight Lake, there’s still controversy and arguments over whether the change was justified or erased history.
Mark HeinzJuly 25, 2025

Rancher Tries To Save Elk Calf Mauled In Mountain Lion Attack
A Montana outdoorsman and rancher found an elk calf that had been critically hurt in a mountain lion attack and took it into his home. The calf died, but he doesn’t regret trying to save it. It also follows a trend of more mountain lion sightings.
Mark HeinzJuly 25, 2025

Rule Would Let Trappers Off Hook For Some Otter Killings, But They Can’t Keep Pelts
A proposed change in Wyoming Game and Fish regulations would let trappers off the hook for “unintentionally” killing otters. But they’d have to surrender the otters’ carcasses to Game and Fish.
Mark HeinzJuly 25, 2025

Congress Moves To Stop Killing Of 500,000 Barred Owls To Save Spotted Owls
Environmental groups have pulled together a bipartisan effort in Congress, which introduced a bill Wednesday to halt a Biden-era plan for a mass killing of 500,000 barred owls. Killing those owls would save endangered spotted owls, officials have said.
Mark HeinzJuly 24, 2025

Not Everyone Thrilled With Colorado’s Wolf Boom — Four New Litters
Colorado’s wolf population is booming, with four packs known to have litters of pups born this spring. Not everyone is thrilled with that news, including ranchers who say wolves have killed numerous cattle.
Mark HeinzJuly 23, 2025

Proposed Bear-Baiting Ban In Wyoming Sparks Debate Over What’s Ethical In Bear Hunting
A coalition of animal welfare groups is backing a congressional bill to ban bear-baiting on federal land in Wyoming and other states, but some hunters argue it’s an ethical way to hunt bears.
Mark HeinzJuly 22, 2025

Story That Grizzly 399’s Cub Spirit Found Through DNA Testing Is Bogus
Rumors started flying online Sunday that Grizzly 399’s final cub, Spirit, has been found alive and identified through DNA. Wyoming wildlife officials say don’t believe it, that it’s a bogus story.
Mark HeinzJuly 21, 2025

It’s Huckleberry Season, But Don’t Ask A Picker Where To Find Them
Throngs of huckleberry hunters are out as the season for picking the wild-growing fruit is hitting its peak in Wyoming. But don’t you dare ask a picker where to find them, as they protect their prime patches the way anglers do a favorite fishing hole.
Anna-Louise JacksonJuly 20, 2025
Cutting-Edge Avalanche Radar Planned For Wyoming’s Notorious Hoback Canyon
Hoback Canyon in northwest Wyoming is notorious for being avalanche-prone. It’s been selected to get a new cutting-edge avalanche radar system that can detect potential slides 24/7 in any weather. That promises faster road closures and safety for drivers.
David MadisonJuly 19, 2025

One Of Wyoming’s Most Beautiful Drives Is Also A Kidney-Rattling Washboard Ride
Just past Sinks Canyon State Park south of Lander is Louis Lake Loop Road. Nearly 100 years old, it leads to some of Wyoming’s most beautiful places, but it's a rough ride. The road wasn't built for today's traffic. It was designed to handle Model Ts going 15 mph.
Mark HeinzJuly 19, 2025

Do Bison Understand Death? Bison Funerals Suggest They Might
Anecdotal evidence suggests bison might have specific behaviors associated with death and mourning. In one case in northern Yellowstone, bison maintained a constant vigil around a deceased bison, circling around the carcass for more than an hour.
Andrew RossiJuly 19, 2025

Mouth-Ripping Barbed Hooks Banned On North Platte Blue-Ribbon Trout Fisheries
Barbed fishing hooks inflict ghastly injuries to prized trout in the North Platte River near Casper. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission this week banned barbed hooks along sections of the river, a move fishing guides say is overdue.
Mark HeinzJuly 18, 2025

Fox-Turned-Shoe Bandit Makes Grand Teton’s ‘Most Wanted’ List
At least one naughty fox has been making off with people’s shoes from a campground in Grand Teton National Park. At least 32 shoes have been stolen so far, prompting the park to put the fox on its “Most Wanted” list.
Mark HeinzJuly 18, 2025

Hageman Wants Answers About Prosecution Of Grand Teton Trail Runner
Idaho ultrarunner Michelino Sunseri is awaiting a verdict in a criminal trial for cutting a switchback while running up Grand Teton last fall. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman says she’s investigating a possible overzealous prosecution.
Sean BarryJuly 17, 2025

Park Service Kills "Food-Conditioned" Black Bear In Yellowstone
The National Park Service announced Thursday that a black bear in Yellowstone was killed because it had developed a taste for human food. The last straw was ransacking a tent and tearing down food storage poles.
Andrew RossiJuly 17, 2025

Supreme Court Petition Is Final Hail Mary For Wyoming Corner-Crossing Landowner
The landowner at the center of Wyoming’s famous “corner-crossing” case has lost every court battle against hunters who crossed at the corner of his property to get to public land. Wednesday, he filed a petition for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
Mark HeinzJuly 16, 2025

Montana Considers Killing Nearly Half Of Its Wolf Population
Montana is considering setting a wolf kill quota of 500 for the 2025-2026 wolf seasons, nearly half of its wolf population. It would allow hunters and trappers to take as many as 15 wolves each.
Mark HeinzJuly 16, 2025

After Hours Of Testimony, Commission Rejects Changes To Landowner Hunting Tags
After landowners showed up in force to oppose proposed changes to landowner hunting tag requirements, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission rejected the changes Tuesday.
Mark HeinzJuly 16, 2025

Hageman’s Bill To Delist Grizzlies Passes House Committee
A U.S. House committee advanced legislation Tuesday sponsored by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, to remove Yellowstone-area grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act list. The bill also would ban courts from blocking the delisting.
Sean BarryJuly 15, 2025

Federal Court Halts Roundup Of Rare Wyoming Curly-Haired Mustangs
A plan to round up rare curly-haired mustangs from herds in southcentral Wyoming is on hold after a Tuesday federal court ruling. The court sided with horse advocate groups against the BLM’s plan.
Mark HeinzJuly 15, 2025

Jackson Woman Stupefied By Dead Mystery Critter Floating In Shoshone River
A Jackson-area woman found a cat-sized dead animal floating in the South Fork of the Shoshone River on Saturday. She doesn’t know what it is and is going nuts trying to positively identify the critter. And it's not a cat.
Mark HeinzJuly 15, 2025

Black Bears In Sheridan County Towns So Routine People Say They're Neighbors
Black bears showing up in Sheridan, Story, Dayton and other towns around the Bighorn Mountains has become routine for folks there. Locals say they feel like the bears are neighbors, but “repeat offender” bears sometimes have to be killed.
Mark HeinzJuly 14, 2025

One Weekend A Year, Lander’s The Center Of The Rock Climbing World
Lander, Wyoming, is an international destination for rock climbers. This past weekend was the 32nd International Climbers’ Festival, which makes Lander the center of the rock-climbing world, drawing hundreds of rock climbers.
Renée JeanJuly 14, 2025

Yellowstone Announces Discovery Of A New Baby Blue Thermal Pool
Yellowstone National Park announced Monday the discovery of a new 13-foot baby blue hot spring. It emerged with little volcanic fanfare in the Norris Geyser Basin and has scientists excited.
Andrew RossiJuly 14, 2025

A Library Card Will Also Get You A Backpack And Into Wyoming State Parks
You can check out more than books at your local public library in Wyoming. A library card will also get you a backpack and free access to Wyoming state parks and historic sites under a program that’s expanding to all 23 counties.
Amber SteinmetzJuly 14, 2025

Killing Older Horses An Option To Trim Wyoming Mustang Herds, Coalition Says
A coalition of conservation and hunting groups claims that holding facilities for mustangs across the West are bursting at the seams. Euthanizing older horses could be a necessary last resort to get things under control, they say.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2025

Hundreds Of Landowners Angry Over Proposed Wyoming Hunting Tag Changes
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday could face hundreds of landowners and residents angry over proposed changes to the landowner hunting tag program. The new regulations could cut as many as 70% of the current allotment of landowner tags.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2025

Bells On Mountain Bikes Could Help Cyclists Avoid Grizzly Maulings
Mountain bikers and grizzlies aren’t a good combination, as a Montana cyclist learned in 2016 when he surprised a bear and was killed. With more mountain bikes than ever in the backcountry, bells, shouting and carrying bear spray might help.
Mark HeinzJuly 13, 2025

Teton County Search And Rescue Responding To More Calls Than Ever
Teton County Search and Rescue had its busiest six months ever from December 2024 through May 31. They had more calls in this six-month stretch than the team used to get in an entire year.
Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2025

‘Swamp Moose’ Sightings In Bighorn National Forest Was 8-Year-Old Prankster
Sightings of the dangerous and elusive "Swamp Moose" were reported in the Bighorn National Forest over the Fourth of July weekend. Turns out the Swamp Moose was a mischievous 8-year-old wearing a ghillie suit with a moose antler on his head.
Andrew RossiJuly 12, 2025

Trees Are Blocking Wyoming Trails, And They Can’t Be Cleared Fast Enough
Dead trees keep falling over onto trails across Wyoming. With federal trail crews in short supply, the work of clearing the trails is increasingly falling on private companies or local volunteer groups.
Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2025

Another Chunk Of Grand Teton’s Second Tower Falls Off
The Jenny Lake Rangers report that another chunk of the Second Tower on Grand Teton fell off over the Fourth of July weekend. It’s the second major collapse involving Second Tower since 2022, leaving experienced climbers saying “just stay away from it.”
Andrew RossiJuly 11, 2025

Dozens Of New Burning Coal Seams Revealed Across Wyoming’s Northern Border
After an epic 2024 wildfire season burned vast areas across northern Wyoming and southern Montana, dozens of new burning coal seams are being revealed. In Montana, the Remington Fire burned almost 200,000 acres and left more than 100 new coal seam fires.
David MadisonJuly 10, 2025

Herd Of Giant Cows Team Up To Scare Off Grizzly Bear
A herd of exceptionally large cows teamed up last week to run off a grizzly bear in Montana. The herd of Charolais cattle, known for their huge size and aggressive nature, surrounded the grizzly and forced it to run away.
Andrew RossiJuly 10, 2025

Venomous — And Legally Protected — ‘Midget’ Rattlers Moving Into Green River
Green River is one of the only places in Wyoming to find midget faded rattlesnakes, which seem to invade the town about this time each year. It’s smaller and rarer than Wyoming’s other species with potent venom. But you can’t kill them; they’re protected.
Andrew RossiJuly 09, 2025

Grizzly 1063’s Last Surviving Cub Trapped, Relocated Off On Its Own
The last surviving cub of Grizzly 1063 in Grand Teton National Park was trapped and relocated because it was hanging around a settled area. A bear expert said the yearling has good odds of surviving on its own.
Mark HeinzJuly 09, 2025

Fans Of Popular Yellowstone Grizzly Raspberry Fear Another Bear Killed Her
Fans of Raspberry, one of Yellowstone National Park’s most beloved and popular grizzly bears, fear she’s dead, perhaps killed by another bear.
Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2025

Game And Fish Backs Off Unpopular Changes To Landowner Hunting Tags
A proposal to raise the amount of land Wyomingites must own to qualify for landowner hunting tags is apparently off the table. But hunters worry it could come back for consideration by the Legislature.
Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2025

Escaped Colorado Rodeo Bull Finally Caught After 5 Days Of Freedom
An elusive rodeo bull named Sauce Boss — or maybe Twinkle Toes — was caught Sunday after running away from a Colorado rodeo. He enjoyed five days of freedom in the rugged brush and woods of an upscale neighborhood before finally being corralled.
David MadisonJuly 07, 2025

Mystery Man Saves Two Cody Teens From Drowning In Beck Lake
Cody resident Jeanne Goodeill doesn't know the name of the man who saved the lives of her 18-year-old son and nephew from drowning in Beck Lake on Friday. She wants him to know he’s a hero for swimming to their rescue during a thunderstorm.
Andrew RossiJuly 07, 2025

Floater-Friendly Fences Could Cool Fighting Between Wyoming Boaters And Ranchers
Steel cables with rope “danglers” that allow boaters to pass through could help cool fighting between floaters and ranchers in Wyoming. One such fight is brewing on Pine Creek near Pinedale.
Mark HeinzJuly 06, 2025

Colorado Search And Rescue Saves Dog, Something Wyoming Teams Can't Do
A Colorado search and rescue team spent 10 hours last week rescuing an exhausted dog from the backcountry. But in Wyoming, dogs are on their own as humans are the only priority. "We don't have the resources," one rescuer said.
Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

Trail Horse Named Barmaid Escapes, Runs Free in Grand Teton For Two Weeks
A trail riding mare named Barmaid escaped from a corral and ran free in Grand Teton National Park for about two weeks. She was finally rounded up last weekend without having suffered a single scratch.
Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025