Outdoors | Cowboy State Daily

Chandra Ahlquist owns Sterling Fox Taxidermy in Loveland, Colorado, where she makes floppy taxidermied animals — what she calls "the ultimate couch companions."

Colorado Woman Calls Her Floppy Taxidermy The ‘Ultimate Couch Companions’

The future of taxidermy will be cuddlier if it’s up to a Colorado woman who specializes in soft-mount animals — aka floppy taxidermy. They're as posable and huggable as a plush toy but made from real predator pelts. Why get a teddy bear when you can snuggle a coyote, she says.

Andrew RossiOctober 10, 2026

Charlie and Jo Stickney run C&J’s Bug Barn game skull cleaning business in Thermopolis.

Flesh-Eating Beetles Finish The 'Gross' Job Of Cleaning Skull Mounts For Hunters

Cleaning big-game skulls to make European mount trophies isn’t for the squeamish. Charlie Stikney of Thermopolis admits there's a "grossness" to blasting brains with compressed air, but his beetles take over from there — and hunters love the results.

Mark HeinzOctober 10, 2026

Medicine Bow National Forest Jack Creek 10 9 26

Juvenile Hunting Camp Thieves Busted After 'Several Years' Spree In Southern Wyoming

Carbon County deputies busted a ring of "juvenile" hunting camp thieves after a flurry of thefts between Sept. 15 and Oct. 1. The sheriff reported Friday that the ring had been operating for "several years." A local hunter recommends using game cameras.

Mark HeinzOctober 09, 2026

Yellowstone Mechanic Stops So He Doesn't Hit Bull Bison, Bison Hits Him Anyway

A seasonal mechanic driving through Yellowstone National Park in darkness Thursday morning stopped so he wouldn't hit a bull bison standing in the road at Mud Volcano. The bison did not return the favor, opting to smash into his truck anyway.

Andrew RossiOctober 09, 2026

Outrage, Criminal Investigation After South Dakota Man Posts Video Drowning Squirrel

A South Dakota man who filmed himself drowning a caged squirrel for several minutes, claimed it was just a "bath" and punishment for eating his apples. Subsequent outrage has led to a criminal investigation. The man wouldn't say if the squirrel died.

Emma Jane JacksonOctober 09, 2026

Grizzly bears scatter like gigantic mice at the approach of a combine in a Montana cornfield, in a video reportedly taken Thursday near the tiny Rocky Mountain Front community of Augusta.

Wow! Grizzlies in Montana Cornfield Scatter Like Mice As Rancher's Combine Nears

A farmer shot a wild video Thursday showing at least seven grizzlies scrambling like gigantic mice at the approach of his combine in a Montana cornfield near the community of Augusta. Locals say this is common for the area known as a hotbed for grizzlies.

Mark HeinzOctober 09, 2026

Bridget Gallagher, a mother of nine from Clark, shot this mountain lion late Tuesday near her family’s property.

Clark Mother Of Nine Shoots Mountain Lion Hanging Around Family's Corn Maze

A mother of nine in Clark, Wyoming, took matters into her own hands when a mountain lion was seen lurking around the family's popular corn maze and pumpkin patch. "I had never even really seen a mountain lion in person,” Bridget Gallagher said.

Mark HeinzOctober 08, 2026

A geomagnetic storm hitting Earth's atmosphere Thursday night and Friday morning, giving Wyomingites a last chance to see an aurora in nearly a decade. "You might want to get up and hope for the best," says retired state climatologist Jan Curtis.

Last Chance! Aurora Could Be Visible Over Wyoming For Final Time For A Decade

A geomagnetic storm hitting Earth's atmosphere Thursday night and Friday could give Wyomingites a last chance to see an aurora for nearly a decade. "You might want to get up and hope for the best," says retired state climatologist Jan Curtis.

Andrew RossiOctober 08, 2026

Hunter Vance McGahey said he was worried about his beloved pack goat overheating in scorching weather during a recent hunting trip in the Wind River mountains.

Scorching Heat, Even At High Altitudes, Has Hunters Passing On Shots At Elk, Deer

Even at high elevations, it's been so hot this season that Wyoming hunters aren't shooting elk because they're worried the meat will spoil. “I had to stop about every three-quarters of a mile and let them cool off," one hunter said about his pack goats.

Mark HeinzOctober 08, 2026

A herd of bison stampede through and over a fence in Grand Teton National Park this week

Stampeding Herd Of Bison Breaks Through Fence In Grand Teton National Park

A Teton County wildlife guide captured dramatic video of a stampeding herd of bison breaking through a fence at Elk Ranch Flats in Grand Teton National Park. “I've never seen so many bison running at that speed for that sustained amount of time,” he said.

Andrew RossiOctober 08, 2026

A large bull moose was stuck for hours in a Red Lodge, Montana, skate park on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.

Bull Moose Rescued After Stuck For Hours In Montana Skate Park

A bull moose that got stuck in a skate park in Red Lodge, Montana, prompted an hourslong, multi-agency effort to get it out Wednesday that ended when the tranquilized animal was pulled out. “It’s been an exciting day in Red Lodge,” said one resident.

Andrew RossiOctober 07, 2026

Idaho Man Hospitalized After Tackling Black Bear In Home To Save Family

A Salmon, Idaho, man tackled a black bear that broke into his home, then wrestled the animal in their yard to protect his family. The man is recovering in a hospital and three bears were euthanized. "I think instinct took over," a family friend said.

Kaitlyn Hart & EastIdahoNews.comOctober 06, 2026

This moose, called The Beast, is on par with famous Teton titan bulls such as Hoback and Shoshone. But he’s on private property and doesn’t have to deal with mobs of tourists.

'The Beast' Is A Monster Wyoming Bull Moose, But Good Luck Getting A Glimpse

A bull moose called The Beast is huge enough to have a shot at dethroning Grand Teton celebrity bulls such as Hoback and Shoshone. But few see him because he lives on private property in southwest Wyoming, far away from wildlife paparazzi — and hunters.

Mark HeinzOctober 05, 2026

Every September, the park hosts its annual Buffalo Roundup, when riders on horseback gather the free-roaming bison scattered across the park and drive them into corrals. The South Dakota park plans to auction more than 600 bison this year, up from previous years due to drought conditions.

Drought Forcing Custer State Park To Auction Off At Least 600 South Dakota Bison

South Dakota's Custer State Park will auction off at least 600 bison next month, a 38% increase from last year because of drought conditions on the range. “Ultimately, the purpose of the auction is herd management,” said a state parks spokesman.

Kate MeadowsOctober 05, 2026

A group of 50-year buddies on a horseback ride through rugged Wyoming backcountry went sideways when one was thrown from his horse and lay motionless in the dirt. Fortunately, one of those friends is John Williams, a combat-veteran Navy doctor.

Doctor Saves 50-Year Friend After Fall From Horse In Rugged Wyoming Backcountry

A group of 50-year buddies on a horseback ride through rugged Wyoming backcountry became immediate emergency responders when one was thrown from his horse and lay motionless in the dirt. Fortunately, one of those friends is a combat-veteran Navy doctor.

Kolby FedoreOctober 05, 2026

Volunteers load the carcasses of sheep killed by lightning on Sept. 23 in Montana’s Gravelly Range mountains into a trailer bound for a carcass composting site.

After Lightning Bolt Kills 220 Sheep, Carcass Composters Spring Into Action

When a bolt of lightning killed 220 sheep in southwest Montana’s remote Gravelly Range last month, it left the area littered with piles of electrocuted carcasses. The race was on to remove them before they became a magnet for hungry grizzly bears.

Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2026

Berryman of Ralston, just shy of turning 67, finally got his first bull elk.

Lifelong Wyoming Hunter Finally Bags His First Bull Elk Just Shy Of Turning 67

Though born in Wyoming and having spent his life here as an avid hunter, one goal eluded Mike Berryman: Bagging a bull elk. Two weeks before turning 67, he met that goal last week on the opening morning of rifle season in the South Fork area near Cody.

Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2026

Yellowstone tourists who follow the rules say they’re sick of watching others who won’t walk on thermals and approach wildlife. “My reaction was, ‘Oh my God! They shouldn't be there,’” said Glenn Osborn, who got this photograph last weekend of people at the edge of Grand Prismatic Spring.

Author And Former Longtime Ranger Says Dumb Tourists Think Yellowstone Is Disneyland

Author Bob Richard, who was a longtime ranger, says Yellowstone tourists don't pay attention to rules because they suffer from the "Disney Syndrome." “They think Yellowstone is a park,” he said, and to them it's a safe and controlled environment.

Andrew RossiOctober 04, 2026

The oldest whitebark pine in the world, found in Grand Teton National Park's Paintbrush Canyon. This tree died in 2021 from an infestation of mountain pine beetles, a problem facing old and young whitebark pines throughout North America.

1,289-Year-Old Whitebark Pine — World's Oldest — Found In Grand Teton, But It Was Dead

Two University of Wyoming scientists were excited and dejected after discovering the world's oldest whitebark pine in Grand Teton National Park recently. That's because the 1,289-year-old tree had died in 2021. “Every tree has its limit," said a UW researcher.

Andrew RossiOctober 03, 2026

Rancher Carrie Schell and her husband, Kyle, were heading into town when they noticed an unfamiliar vehicle on their property. When they stopped the driver, his explanation was that the gates were open and there were no signs, so it was OK for him to drive onto their land.

Landowners Fed Up With New Breed Of Trespassers Who Think Rules Don't Apply To Them

Landowners across Wyoming and the West say they are encountering a new breed of "entitled trespassers" who think gates and No Trespassing signs don't apply to them. They believe if they have a good reason for being there, they have a right to be there.

Kate MeadowsOctober 03, 2026

Smash was living up to his nickname earlier this week when he was caught on video trying to battle with a small, white Honda sedan.

Massive Estes Park Bull Elk Nicknamed 'Smash' Fights Cars And Chases Golf Carts

A notorious bull elk in Estes Park known as Smash rammed a Colorado reporter's car recently as part his autumn-rut ritual of chasing golf carts and vehicles. Bull elk are "perpetually angry" this time of year, a wildlife biologist explains.

Mark HeinzOctober 02, 2026

Strangers Rally For Miracle Rescue Of Great Horned Owl Impaled On Barbed-Wire Fence

When Sharon and Scott Jacobs saw a great horned owl tangled and impaled in a barbed wire fence, they didn't look the other way. Thanks to their efforts and other caring strangers, the owl was saved. The Black Hills Raptor Center calls it a miracle.

Kate MeadowsOctober 02, 2026

David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.

Now Retired, Wyoming Sheriff Still Haunted 29 Years After Camper Went Missing

David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. He was last seen on the banks of Island Lake with a fishing rod in hand. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.

Jen KocherOctober 02, 2026

A screenshot from the original TikTok by ISA KNOWS, which shows Megan Pope confronting a line of tourist photographers at Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park.

Pregnant Photographer Mooed At By Tourist Mob Talks About Viral Grand Teton Video

9 million people on TikTok have watched a pregnant Rock Springs photographer lose her temper at a line of tourists who taunted and mooed at her last week in Grand Teton. “Wyoming might be your vacation destination, but it’s also our home," she told them.

Emma Jane JacksonOctober 02, 2026