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The Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of the 42nd annual Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby, planned for Jan. 17-18, due to “very poor ice conditions.”

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

Hunters in snow 11 11 24

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

After a “state-of-emergency” power outage in Canada last week — on the heels of a massive outage in Wyoming — some Wyomingites say they’re thankful for off-grid power options. Others say they just hate power companies.

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

LAPD Policeman Jack Brush would take his vacations in Yellowstone National Park every year and eventually signed up as a law enforcement ranger where his favorite assignment was riding his horse, Ace, on patrol around Old Faithful.

LA Cop Who Helped Catch Charles Manson Found Escape By Patrolling Yellowstone On Horseback

Jack Brush was a hardened Los Angeles cop who worked during the L.A. riots and helped catch Charles Manson. In the summers, he would escape the big city to work as a cop in Yellowstone, patrolling the park on horseback.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2026

A rural county in New Mexico makes children sit inside cage-like roadside shelters called “wolf houses" while waiting for school buses. That’s because their parents worry that wolves in the area might attack the children.

Why New Mexico Kids Wait In Protective ‘Wolf Houses' At School Bus Stops

Parents in a New Mexico county are worried their children might get attacked by wolves so they've built cage-like shelters for them at bus stops. Critics say it's ridiculous as there hasn't been a fatal wild wolf attack on a human in the lower 48 for 100+ years.

Mark HeinzJanuary 03, 2026

Wildlife filmmaker Casey Anderson set motion-activated cameras in two grizzly dens north of Yellowstone National Park in 2015. He finally recovered the cameras during the summer of 2025, and found they’d captured images of numerous wild animals.

Man Leaves Cameras In Grizzly Caves north Of Yellowstone, Captures Decade Of Video

Wildlife filmmaker Casey Anderson left stop-motion cameras in two grizzly dens north of Yellowstone in 2015 and forgot about them. Last summer, he went back to the caves and, to his amazement, recovered the cameras and more than a decade of footage.

Mark HeinzJanuary 03, 2026

At least one mountain lion — and possibly two — apparently attacked and killed a woman hiking in Colorado on Thursday. Mountain lion experts say attacks on humans are extremely rare, without an officially documented fatal mountain lion attack in Wyoming.

Experts Say Woman Killed In Colorado Mountain Lion Attack A Rare Tragedy

At least one mountain lion — and possibly two — apparently attacked and killed a woman hiking in Colorado on Thursday. Mountain lion experts say attacks on humans are extremely rare, without an officially documented fatal mountain lion attack in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzJanuary 03, 2026

Grand Tetons climbing Cavan Images via Alamy 1 2 26

Researchers Say 'Biophobia' — An Irrational Terror Of Nature — Is A Thing Now

A crippling fear of nature called “biophobia” is becoming more common, researchers say. A Wyoming backcountry guide said he’s skeptical, and conversely has seen exposure to nature change lives for the better.

Mark HeinzJanuary 02, 2026

It’s estimated 25% to 35% of Wyoming’s forests are now dominated by “ghost forests” — standing dead timber from beetle epidemics and disease. Researchers say it's time to start paying attention to limber pine before it follows the whitebark into crisis.

Up To 35% Of Wyoming's High Country Is Dead 'Ghost Forest’ — And It's Spreading

It’s estimated 25% to 35% of Wyoming’s forests are now dominated by “ghost forests” — standing dead timber from beetle epidemics and disease. Researchers say it's time to start paying attention to limber pine before it follows the whitebark into crisis.

David MadisonJanuary 01, 2026

For some, prairie dog hunting isn’t as simple as driving around until they find the rodents. Serious hunters hire guides to take them to target-rich prairie dog towns.

Group Says Prairie Dog ‘Massacre’ Litters Plains With Lead-Riddled Carcasses

People who “massacre” prairie dogs in Colorado should have to pick up the lead-riddled carcasses, says a group calling for more regulation of hunting the rodents. The hunting also leads to other wildlife getting lead poisoning, it says.

Mark HeinzDecember 31, 2025

The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center has logged reports of 32 avalanches in the Tetons since Dec. 19. In those, two skiers have survived being caught, including one Sunday in No Name Bowl who avoided getting buried by wearing an airbag pack, circled.

Skiers Caught In Two Of 32 Teton Avalanches In 11 Days

The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center has logged reports of 32 avalanches in the Tetons since Dec. 19. In those, two skiers were caught in them, including one Sunday in No Name Bowl who avoided getting buried by wearing an airbag pack.

Andrew RossiDecember 30, 2025

Kamra is a mama racoon that got into trouble when she trashed someone’s vehicle in Cheyenne. She was reunited with her four offspring at the Broken Bandit animal rescue east of Cheyenne.

Wyoming Animal Rescue Says Raccoon Reunion With Her Babies Favorite Story Of 2025

Patricia Wyer has seen many animals come and go at her wildlife rescue center near Cheyenne, but her most heartwarming tale of 2025 is that of a momma raccoon who lost her babies, trashed a pickup in her angst, but then got a second chance.

Mark HeinzDecember 30, 2025

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 has 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

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