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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

Shonna Kaye Dehl of Lovell (foreground) and Maggie Bassett of Powell have camped in the Bighorn Mountains for years. Their camp was trashed by an aggressive black bear late Sunday.

Aggressive Black Bear Drives Women From Bighorns Camp Before Shredding Tents

Two experienced Wyoming outdoorswomen said a large black bear aggressively entered their camp in the Bighorns late Sunday and turned it into "total chaos." When they returned the next day after escaping to a cabin, their camp was completely torn apart.

Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2026

Rich Guenzel, a retired Game and Fish biologist and pronghorn conservationist, made a “pronghorn swear jar” as a humorous way to correct people for calling the iconic Wyoming animals “antelope.”

Say 'Antelope' In Front Of Wyoming Pronghorn Activist, It'll Cost You $1

Conservationist Rich Guenzel understands why many people, including Wyoming Game and Fish, wrongly call one of the state's signature animals "antelope," but it's his pet peeve. It bugs him so much he has a “pronghorn swear jar” and makes people pay $1.

Mark HeinzJuly 06, 2026

Rancher Leah LaTray thinks her 8-year-old quarter horse mare was severely injured by a grizzly bear on her ranch near Lewistown, Montana. The horse is expected to survive.

Montana Rancher More Than 100 Miles From Rocky Mountains Says Grizzly Mauled Horse

A Montana rancher who lives more than 100 miles from grizzly territory says a bear mauled her quarter horse. Grizzlies aren't deliberately being reintroduced to prairie country. Instead, they’re moving back into those areas on their own.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2026

Mark Heinz celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” on his Sthil 500i chainsaw.

The Tradition Continues: Mark Heinz Plays 'The Star Spangled Banner' On His Chainsaw

A Cowboy State Daily patriotic Independence Day tradition continues for the fourth straight year with outdoors writer Mark Heinz belting out “The Star Spangled Banner” on a chainsaw.

Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2026

Rancher Amanda Cerveney took video of two coyotes attacking one of her neighbor’s calves in Colorado this week. There’s also a pack of wolves in the area.

Rancher Says Wolves Making Colorado Coyotes More Aggressive With Livestock

Ranchers in northern Colorado wonder if the growing wolf population is causing coyotes to be more aggressive toward livestock. "In 30 years of doing this, I’ve never seen anything like that," a rancher said about two coyotes attacking healthy livestock.

Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2026

Washakie County Sheriff’s deputy Chris Hazen hoists a tranquilized female black bear Thursday in Worland. The bear was captured in a resident’s back yard.

Black Bear Leads Authorities On Two-Day Dumpster-Raiding Chase Through Worland

A female black bear evaded local law enforcement and wildlife authorities for two days as it ran in and around Worland. “She spent a couple of days running back and forth and was in every single dumpster,” said one local who observed the bear.

Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2026

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