Outdoors

Logan Wilson has been using hound dogs to hunt mountain lions in Wyoming for about three years.

Mountain Lions Gobble Up Pets And Four Goats In Story, Wyoming

Mountain lions are killing pets and livestock, including four goats, in and around the tiny Wyoming mountain town of Story. An area houndsman has stepped in to help chase the lions out.

Mark HeinzOctober 14, 2024

A large jet tanker drops a load of retardant on the Elk Fire.

13 Aircraft Maintaining An All-Out Air Assault On 90,000-Acre Elk Fire

In addition to nearly 1,000 people fighting the Elk Fire on the ground, 13 aircraft are assigned to battle. It’s more than most fires get, and they’re maintaining an all-out aerial assault on the nearly 90,000-acre fire.

Renée JeanOctober 14, 2024

Three horses recently arrived at an animal rescue center near Cheyenne, including a mare and her foal, and another mare that is pregnant. The center’s director would like to know more about them and where they came from.

Group Of Horses May Have Been Left Homeless By Wyoming Wildfires

The owner of an animal rescue facility east of Cheyenne wants the previous owners of a mare, her foal, and another mare that's pregnant to know that the animals are safe and will be well-cared for. She wonders if they were forced to sell because of the wildfires.

Mark HeinzOctober 13, 2024

Jerry Nelson is a retired geology professor from Casper. He was once treed by a grizzly and credits the dogs he had with him at the time (not the dog pictured here) for helping to save the day.

Casper Man Says Climbing A Tree Saved Him From Grizzly Attack

A Casper man says he’s living proof that climbing a tree can help someone survive a grizzly attack because he did it in the 1970s when a bear charged him. He says his two black Labs played a big role too as they kept the mama grizzly and her two cubs busy while they waited it out.

Mark HeinzOctober 13, 2024

At the Elk View Inn near Dayton, the Elk Fire appears intimidating in this file photo.

Firefighting “Spike Camp” Near Burgess Junction Tackles Elk Fire From The West

The Elk Fire has burned about 87,000 acres on the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. While most of the attention has been the fire’s relentless push southeast, a firefighting “spike camp” near Burgess Junction is fighting it from the west.

Renée JeanOctober 13, 2024

Aircraft continue to drop huge loads of fire retardant slurry around the Elk Fire to try and slow or halt it's spread and help establish fire lines.

Elk Fire Continues Its Southeast March, Grows Again To More Than 87,000 Acres

Like a column of soldiers, the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming continues its methodical — and at times seemingly relentless — march southeast. It’s grown again to more than 87,000 acres as of Sunday and a little less contained at 28%.

Greg JohnsonOctober 13, 2024

A firefighter picks up one of each type of lunch, vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

It Takes A Makeshift City To Support The Nearly 1,000 Elk Fire Firefighters

There are nearly 1,000 firefighters and support personnel assigned to the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team fighting the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming. It takes a makeshift city to support them all.

Renée JeanOctober 12, 2024

Two Ocean Creek in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness is the only body of water on the planet that splits and flows into both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Wyoming's Two Ocean Creek Is Only Body Of Water That Flows Into Atlantic And Pacific

Parting of the Waters deep in the Teton Wilderness is a uniquely Wyoming wonder where Two Ocean Creek splits, flowing into both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It’s the only body of water on the planet to do that.

Andrew RossiOctober 12, 2024

Firefighters on the ground do strategic burning to help gain control of the Elk Fire.

Stubborn Elk Fire Grows To Nearly 85,000 Acres, But Now 32% Contained

The huge Elk Fire in northern Wyoming continues to be a stubborn, dangerous event, growing to nearly 85,000 acres by Saturday. But firefighters are making significant progress, achieving 32% containment.

Greg JohnsonOctober 12, 2024

Park County voters line up to cast their ballots at the Cody Rec Center for the Aug. 20, 2024, Wyoming primary election.

Wyoming Hunters And Gun Owners Buck National Trend Of Not Voting

Nationwide apathy and distrust of government has caused a drop in hunters and gun owners registering to vote, reports Vote4America. But not in Wyoming, where hunters and gun owners buck that trend, likely because they feel supported by conservatives.

Mark HeinzOctober 11, 2024

A giant jackalope at the Douglas Railroad Museum.

The Hardest Part Of Making Jackalopes? Finding Enough Frozen Wyoming Jackrabbits

A Montana taxidermist who creates jackalope mounts says Wyoming jackrabbit carcasses are the best for them. But he’s having a hard time getting the 200-300 frozen carcasses a month he needs.

Mark HeinzOctober 11, 2024

The flames may seem ominous, but they're part of a strategic burn in the southern part of the Elk Fire overnight Thursday, as seen in this stunning photo taken by Jeffrey Shanor of Sheridan.

Fiery Glow On Bighorns Overnight Was Intentional Burning To Slow Elk Fire

Another night of watching the Bighorn Mountains glow above them made some living in the shadow of the Elk Fire nervous overnight Thursday. But the huge, scary and dramatic column of fire was part of a plan to save Sheridan’s water supply, as well as slow the fire down.

Renée JeanOctober 11, 2024

Jacob Williamson discovered a wildfire burning near Sheridan. He stopped, called it in, then got busy fighting it.

Fast-Acting WYDOT Worker Spots New Wildfire, Calls 911, Then Helps Put It Out

An alert Wyoming Department of Transportation worker spotted a new wildfire taking off 7 miles north of Sheridan along I-90. He called 911, then jumped into action himself, helping to put it out before the fire became a catastrophe.

Renée JeanOctober 11, 2024

Mike Parsley teaches dogs to recognize and avoid danger, like rattlesnakes. After hearing the story of a Wyoming dog caught in a beaver trap, he developed a course specifically for dogs to avoid them.

Wyoming Dog’s Death In Beaver Trap Inspires New Training Course

A Wyoming dog’s death in a beaver trap has inspired a first-of-its-kind training course for dogs. A trainer who already teaches dogs to avoid rattlesnakes and other dangers has added traps to the program.

Mark HeinzOctober 10, 2024

The Elk Fire has left the face of the Bighorn Mountains above Dayton, Wyoming, blackened.

Elk Fire Breaking The Rules Of Wildfires And ‘Is Behaving Like A Teenager’

The strategists in charge of battling the huge 76,000-acre Elk Fire in northern Wyoming say the stubborn blaze is breaking the rules of wildfires. One said it even seems oppositional to authority and “is behaving like a teenager.”

Renée JeanOctober 10, 2024

Warren Tritschler is a guy with a water tank and a garden hose, determined to do whatever possible to protect his home and his property. The Buckhorn Travel Center owner has started a fuel fund for other Hillbilly Hotshots, to help them with the cost of fuel for their trucks and their water pumps.

Armed With A Hose And Weed Sprayer, Wyoming Man Defends His Home From Elk Fire

Warren Tritschler defended his home in the Horseshoe subdivision near Dayton from the Elk Fire with a garden hose and a weed sprayer. He’s one of the many so-called “Hillbilly Hotshots” determined to help fight the huge wildfire.

Renée JeanOctober 09, 2024

Grazer has stuffed herself with so much Alaska salmon that she's been crowned the 2014 Fat Bear Week champion. She also won in 2023.

Gloriously Plump Mama Crowned Queen Of ‘Fat Bear Week’

Alaska brown bears gorge themselves on salmon for the upcoming winter, oblivious they’re competing for a coveted title — Fat Bear Week champion. This year’s winner is Grazer, a bulked-out bruin that ate her way to back-to-back titles.

Mark HeinzOctober 09, 2024

Firefighters attached to the Pack Trail Fire incident management team pore over a map of the fire, which clearly shows the Fish Creek Fire to the north and Pack Trail to the south that have merged into a single 66,000-acre fire complex.

Pack Trail Fire Still Growing In Northwest Wyoming, Now At 66,000 Acres

Much of Wyoming is watching the Elk Fire, which has threatened communities in Sheridan County. But the Pack Trail Fire started first in rugged northwest Wyoming. It’s at 66,000 acres and still growing.

October 09, 2024

Jill Valley of KPAX news in Missoula, Montana, was at Steamboat Geyeser in Yellowstone National Park to capture video of one of its infrequent eruptions on Oct. 7, 2024.

Steamboat, World’s Largest Geyser, Erupts For Fifth Time This Year

Steamboat Geyser, the largest in Yellowstone and the world, erupted for the fifth time this year Monday. After six years of active eruptions, volcanologists say Steamboat seems to be losing some steam.

Andrew RossiOctober 09, 2024

Mob Of 100 Hungry Raccoons Drives Woman From Her Home

After 100 raccoons invaded a Washington woman’s property and drove her from her home, things could end badly for the raccoons. Wyoming wildlife experts say it’s a lesson on why you shouldn’t feed wild animals.

Mark HeinzOctober 09, 2024

A fire crew maps out a plan of attack as a column of smoke rises from the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming in October 2024.

Firefighters Hold Off Elk Fire As It Threatens Sheridan’s Water Supply

As the 76,000-acre Elk Fire continues to be active and push southeast along the face of the Bighorn Mountains, it’s threatening Sheridan’s water supply. The fire made a run at the Big Goose Water Treatment Plant early Wednesday.

Greg JohnsonOctober 09, 2024

Local residents near the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming are also helping to keep their homes and land from burning. They're affectionately called the Hillbilly Hotshots.

Rural Wyomingites — AKA Hotshot Hillbillies — Help Save 1887 Double Rafter Ranch

The Double Rafter Ranch has been a fixture in northern Wyoming since 1887. It’s still there, thanks in part to the local Hillbilly Hotshots — a group of self-appointed rancher-firefighters — who helped save it from the Elk Fire.

Renée JeanOctober 08, 2024

This Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter is specially designed for operations in high, rugged mountains. This Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter is specially designed for operations in high, rugged mountains.

Wyoming Search And Rescue Team Recovers Body From Remote Colorado Peak

After Colorado teams twice tried to recover a man’s body from a remote mountain peak, Teton County Search and Rescue recovered his remains last week. The Wyoming team had the right equipment and training to help bring closure for his family.

Mark HeinzOctober 08, 2024

Climbing A Tree To Escape A Grizzly Not The Best Idea, Outdoorsmen Say

In yet another conflict between a hunter and grizzly bears, a Montana man tried climbing a tree to escape one Saturday. It didn’t work. Grizzlies can climb too, and the hunter had to shoot the bear.