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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

Lynx are rare and elusive. They’re thought to be in numerous Wyoming counties, but are seldom seen.  

Lynx Are So Rare And Elusive, Nobody Really Knows How Many Are In Wyoming

Once more common across much of the North American Rockies, lynx are now elusive and rare. A Wyoming wildlife researcher says there are lynx in the Cowboy State, but nobody’s really sure how many are out there.

Mark HeinzApril 12, 2026

Flaming Gorge is preparing to be drained by up to a third to make up for the “horrible” Colorado River levels. Wyoming and other Upper Basin states could be left dry in response to desperate downriver water shortages.

Flaming Gorge Could Be Tapped To Make Up For ‘Horrible’ Colorado River Levels

Flaming Gorge is preparing to be drained by up to a third to make up for the “horrible” Colorado River levels. Wyoming and other Upper Basin states could be left dry in response to desperate downriver water shortages.

Mark HeinzApril 11, 2026

Lonesome Lake is one of Wyoming’s premiere hiking destinations, at the foot of the Cirque of Towers, at the southern end of the Wind River Range mountains.

Wyoming’s Lonesome Lake Not So Lonesome; Hikers Say It’s Turning Into Mob Scene

The 9-mile hike into Lonesome Lake in the Wind River Range mountains takes hikers to the stunning Cirque of Towers. Some veteran hikers say social media has turned it into a mob scene and it's getting "loved to death."

Mark HeinzApril 11, 2026

After mistaking his own reflection in a sliding glass door for a rival ram, a desert bighorn sheep headbutted the door, and then fled, startled by the shattering glass.

Bighorn Ram Destroys Sliding Glass Door After Mistaking Reflection For Rival Ram

A bighorn sheep ram destroyed a sliding glass door in Yuma, Arizona, last week after seeing his own reflection and mistaking it for another ram. A former Wyoming Game and Fish wildlife supervisor wasn't surprised. "That's normal behavior," he said.

Mark HeinzApril 09, 2026

A Bison cow managed to pull herself free of the water in muck in Yellowstone National Park’s Blacktail Pond. The area is notorious for bison drownings.

Yellowstone Photographer Captures Bison's Heroic Escape From Notorious Death Trap

Yellowstone’s Blacktail Pond is a death trap for bison when they fall through ice or get stuck in mud there. Wildlife photographer Pete Bengeyfield thought for sure that one unfortunate bison was doomed but was thrilled to see her escape.

Mark HeinzApril 09, 2026

A grizzly feasts on a carcass in Yellowstone National Park.

Grizzlies Face Carcass Shortage After Mild Winter And Wolves Getting Them First

A mild winter means fewer rotting big game carcasses for Wyoming grizzlies to feast on this spring and wolves are getting them first. "I had three feet of snow in my yard last year. Now I have three inches of grass,” said wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen

Mark HeinzApril 08, 2026

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