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In 1958, capturing black bears for research was completely nuts. They used ether to put the bears into a stupor and hoped for the best. Veteran conservationist Cliff Bampton said one of his teammates once had to literally wrestle a bear.

In The 1950s, Bear Researchers Used Ether And A Lineman Who Wrestled Them

The pioneering days of bear research in the 1950s were not standardized at all. One capture team using ether-soaked cotton to put bears into a stupor and then had a college football player wrestle the bear.

Mark HeinzJanuary 10, 2026

Wolf 1090F, of the Mollie’s pack in Yellowstone National Park, recently hit the age of 11 years, nine months. That makes her her the oldest living wolf in the park, and one of the oldest ever.

Nearly 12 And Huge, Yellowstone Wolf 1090F Earns Title Of Oldest In Yellowstone

At the age of 11 years, 9 months, Wolf 1090F has earned the title of the oldest living wolf in Yellowstone, which is remarkable considering the average lifespan of a wild wolf is 5 or 6. Like other members of the pack known as Mollie’s pack, she’s huge.

Mark HeinzJanuary 10, 2026

Sublette County Deputy Jason Overbaugh plunged into the icy New Fork River near Big Piney on New Year’s Day to rescue a trapped mule deer doe and fawn. Ally Cogburn spotted the struggling animals, and both survived Overbaugh's heroic effort.

Sublette County Deputy Busts Through Ice To Save Mom And Baby Deer

Sublette County Deputy Jason Overbaugh plunged into the icy New Fork River near Big Piney on New Year’s Day to rescue a trapped mule deer doe and fawn. Ally Cogburn spotted the struggling animals, and both survived Overbaugh's heroic effort.

Mark HeinzJanuary 09, 2026

The inclusion of President Donald Trump’s picture on 2026 “America The Beautiful” national park annual pass has made some people so livid, they’ve put stickers over the president’s image, which invalidates the passes.

Protesters Slap Stickers Over Trump's Image On National Park Passes, Voiding Them

The inclusion of President Donald Trump’s picture on 2026 “America The Beautiful” national park annual pass has made some people so livid, they’ve put stickers over the president’s image, which invalidates the passes.

Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2026

Former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis has been hired as the new deputy director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Davis was forced to resign in lieu of being terminated, according to a settlement agreement obtained by 9NEWS.

Wyoming’s New Deputy Game And Fish Director Is Former Controversial Colorado Chief

Former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis who was mired in controversy over its wolf program has been hired as the new deputy director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Davis resigned in Colorado instead of being terminated, according to a settlement agreement.

Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2026

As of Wednesday, Boysen Reservoir in Fremont County was still almost completely ice-free. That’s killed the ice fishing season so far this year.

Ice Fishing Season A Disaster So Far As Boysen Reservoir Still Isn’t Frozen

The ice-fishing season in Fremont County has been a disaster so far. Boysen Reservoir is nearly ice-free, and some recent days there have felt practically like summer.

Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2026

Prairie dog advocates in Colorado say coyotes are gobbling up people's pets in Boulder County because prairie dogs are being relocated to make way for development. But officials say the area still has a healthy prairie dog population.

Group Says Colorado Coyotes Are Eating Pets Because There Are No Prairie Dogs

Prairie dog advocates in Colorado say coyotes are eating people's pets in Boulder County because prairie dogs are being relocated to make way for development. But officials say the area still has a healthy prairie dog population.

Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2026

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

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