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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

The Jessen Reindeer Ranch rents rendeer for events in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. Raising and caring for reindeer is expensive, but can easily bring in more than $100,000 in the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Colorado Ranch Earns More Than $100,000 During Holidays Renting Reindeer

The Jessen Reindeer Ranch rents reindeer for events in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. Raising and caring for reindeer is expensive, but can easily bring in more than $100,000 in the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Andrew RossiDecember 14, 2025

When a 1,000-pound bison dies too close to tourist hotspots in Yellowstone National Park, rangers have to move it. That’s a big job that takes tractors, winches, and front-end loaders.

How Yellowstone Rangers Use Heavy Equipment To Drag 2,000-Pound Carcasses Away

When a 2,000-pound bison dies too close to tourist hotspots in Yellowstone National Park, rangers have to move it. That’s a big job that takes tractors, winches, and front-end loaders.

Andrew RossiDecember 14, 2025

3D printing has revolutionized many fields, now it’s becoming an option for mounting hunters’ trophy antlers and horns, with 3D printed big game skulls.

3D-Printed Skulls Mean Hunters Don’t Have To Boil Heads To Mount Trophy Antlers

Until 3D printing technology along, hunters would boil an animal’s skinned head for hours making it easier to scrape off the remaining flesh or get a tank full of carnivorous beetles, eager to devour the flesh and brains, picking the skull clean.

Mark HeinzDecember 13, 2025

Grizzly 122, The Boss, is Canada’s favorite bear. He lives in Banff National Park, Alberta.

Meet 'The Boss,' Canada's Legendary 700-Pound, 28-Year-Old Grizzly Who Beat A Train

In Wyoming, the most famous bear was Grizzly 399. In Canada, it's a gigantic 700-pound grizzly known as "The Boss." Not only did he walk away after being hit by a train but biologists say he's fathered half the cubs in Banff National Park in Alberta.

Mark HeinzDecember 13, 2025

Wyoming’s Yellowstone bison look miserable when caked in snow and frost, but their thick coats, fat reserves and efficient digestion keep them warm and fueled through brutal winters. Even so, late winter stress, thin ice and humans kill many each year.

Buried In Snow, Yellowstone's Bison Have No Problems Weathering Winter

Wyoming’s Yellowstone bison look miserable when caked in snow and frost, but their thick coats, fat reserves and efficient digestion keep them warm and fueled through brutal winters. Snow acts as extra insulating layer, said one biologist.

Mark HeinzDecember 13, 2025

The alleged torture of a moose in Uinta County is the latest in a string of Wyoming residents accused of cruelty to animals, raising concerns about the state’s reputation. “It makes us look like a bunch of freaking jackasses,” outdoorsman Zachary Key said.

Moose, Wolf, Horse And Wombat Cruelty Allegations Staining Wyoming’s Reputation

The alleged torture of a moose in Uinta County is the latest in a string of Wyoming residents accused of cruelty to animals, raising concerns about the state’s reputation. “It makes us look like a bunch of freaking jackasses,” outdoorsman Zachary Key said.

Mark HeinzDecember 12, 2025

A riverbank improvement project West of Cody aims to save the country’s oldest ranger station from sliding into the North Fork river, while also helping Yellowstone cutthroat trout and bighorn sheep.

With 1,000 Logs, Project Aims To Save The Nation's Oldest Ranger Station

Crews are dropping more than 1,000 logs along the banks of the North Fork of the Shoshone River in hopes of protecting the nation’s oldest ranger station. The massive floods of 2022 caused severe erosion and the Wapiti Ranger Station is in danger of falling in.

Mark HeinzDecember 12, 2025

Glacier National Park is ending its reservation system for getting into the park, which was meant to keep the park from getting mobbed. But insiders say national parks are getting overrun anyway.

Glacier National Park Drops Reservation System As Crowds Keep Growing

Glacier National Park is ending its reservation system for getting into the park, which was meant to keep the park from getting mobbed. But insiders say national parks are getting overrun anyway.

Mark HeinzDecember 12, 2025

The two pack horses that wandered off in late October north of Moran are still missing. An owner of one of the horses has conducted aerial searches, both in a small plane and with a thermal drone.

Search Intensifies For Horses Missing Six Weeks In Wyoming Backcountry

Two horses that went missing north of Moran in late October still haven't been found despite aerial searches. An outfitter is also missing horses in the same area, and the parties have joined forces in their search efforts.

David MadisonDecember 11, 2025

Josh Baker, right, comforts his friend, Bhuvan Unhelkar of Sarasota, Fla, who was seriously injured in September while horseback riding in Cody

Florida Professor Survives Horrific Fall During Wyoming Horseback Ride

A Florida professor was seriously injured in a horseback fall near Cody, sliding into a tree and crushing several vertebrae. After emergency surgery, he recovered and plans to run a half-marathon but vows never to ride again.

Scott SchwebkeDecember 09, 2025

Photographer Beth Moos captured the dramatic rescue of four bull elk, which involved some aerial dynamics provided by a helicopter from Central Copters Inc.

Photographer Captures Dramatic Helicopter Rescue Of Elk Stuck In Icy Lake

When photographer Beth Moos heard of some elk stuck in an icy lake, she grabbed her camera. What she captured was an incredible helicopter rescue that saved all of the animals. Even better, the rescuers did it out of the kindness of their hearts. 

Andrew RossiDecember 09, 2025

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