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Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's outdoor and wildlife reporter, Mark Heinz.
Outdoors Reporter

Mark Heinz

Mark Heinz covers the outdoors and wildlife for Cowboy State Daily.

He previously worked or freelanced for numerous newspapers and magazines across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana covering all manner of news and feature stories. He has a strong background in topics related to wildlife, hunting, and wildlands conservation. Hes written extensively since the 1990s about the controversies surrounding wolves, grizzly bears and mustangs.

He also enjoys people-centric stories with quirky edge of humor and has written several such pieces for Cowboy State Daily. 

Mark lives in Laramie with his wife, Kendy, and the youngest of their five children.

Latest from Mark Heinz

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

A team of French researchers 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

Mark one legged 12 24 25

Mark Heinz: Cancer Took Randy Svalina's Leg But That Didn't Stop Him

Mark Heinz writes, "if you twisted my arm, I'd have to say the tale of Randy Svalina of Laramie was my favorite of 2025. "After a decades-long battle with bone cancer, he ended up losing most of a leg recently. But he wasn’t about to let that stop him, or even slow him down much, from working, spending time with his family, or even hunting."

Mark HeinzDecember 24, 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

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