Wyoming

Rock Springs Loves Steve, A Mule Deer With Gnarled Antlers And…

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2024

Rock Springs Loves Steve, A Mule Deer With Gnarled Antlers And…

When it comes to hanging out with his deer buddies and snacking on his favorite treat — crabapples fresh off the trees — a mule deer buck that lives in Rock Springs isn’t about the let anything stop him.

Not even terrible injuries that have left him limping along on three hooves with antlers that are a tangled mess.

What Do We Call Him?

Folks weren’t sure what to call the buck that has limped his way around the southwest Wyoming town for a couple of years and become a local fixture.

So, Rock Springs resident Daxton Staley posted a poll on social media calling on other locals to help him decide on a name.

Popular options included Eliot after the goofy, one-antlered deer from the animated children’s movie “Open Season.”

Many favored “Lt. Dan” after the character in the hugely popular cinematic tribute to Americana, “Forrest Gump.”

In that movie, Lt. Dan is initially angry and cynical after losing his legs during the Vietnam War, but eventually finds redemption and happiness.

However, one fitting name won out: Steve the Survivor.

Staley said he came up with that name.

“I was sitting on the couch, and I saw him through the living room window, and I thought ‘Steve’ seemed to fit him. He’s Steve the Survivor,” he said.

How Did He Get That Way?

Quite a few mule deer call Rock Springs home. They frequently move between tasty lawns in quiet neighborhoods and resting spots in the vast, arid lands surrounding the city.

Among the deer, Steve has been popular for a while, Staley told Cowboy State Daily.

Nobody seems to know for sure how Steve got to be the way that he is. But as the story goes, he was more-or-less a normal buck before being struck by a vehicle about two years ago, Staley said.

The accident left the young buck horribly wounded and deformed, but he slowly recovered enough to keep living his best life.

At first, one of Steve’s rear hooves was “hanging on by just some fur and maybe a tendon,” Staley said. “But then it fell completely off.”

Not to be so easily stopped, Steve continued to limp along on the stump, which eventually calloused over, Staley said.

According to wildlife biologists, head injuries can cause unusual antler growth in deer. That could probably account for the wild and wacky way that Steve’s antlers come in every year.

Bucks start growing antlers in the spring. At first, the antlers are covered with a nutrient-rich membrane called velvet. Once that dries up and falls off, usually in late summer or early fall, the antlers are revealed in their full glory.

The antlers themselves fall off, usually around February, and the process starts all over again with the antlers growing in bigger with each passing year.

People in Rock Springs are calling this mule deer buck Steve the Survivor. He was reportedly severely mangled when he was struck by a car a couple of years ago. But he has just kept going and living his best life, his favorite food is crabapples. (Courtesy Daxton Staley)
People in Rock Springs are calling this mule deer buck Steve the Survivor. He was reportedly severely mangled when he was struck by a car a couple of years ago. But he has just kept going and living his best life, his favorite food is crabapples. (Courtesy Daxton Staley)
People in Rock Springs are calling this mule deer buck Steve the Survivor. He was reportedly severely mangled when he was struck by a car a couple of years ago. But he has just kept going and living his best life, his favorite food is crabapples. (Courtesy Daxton Staley)

A Few Injured Deer Around Town

Steve isn’t the only deer with old injuries in Rock Springs, Animal Control Officer Lydia Gomez told Cowboy State Daily.

“There are a few bucks that we have been called about,” Gomez said. “Game and Fish is also aware of the deer. They have old injuries, and are able to get around and eat, (so) Game and Fish leaves them alone.”

He’s Not Pathetic, He’s Tough

Some people think Steve the Survivor is pathetic. But Staley doesn’t think that’s the right way to regard the tenacious buck.

“A lot of people have seen him, and some people were talking about how sad it is,” he said.

Steve doesn’t seem to be sad at all, Staley said.

“He’s been munching on the neighbor’s crabapples” and appears to have plenty of energy, he said.

Staley said when he watches Steve, he doesn’t feel pity. He feels inspired.

“He’s a symbol of perseverance,” Staley said. “He’s definitely a cool deer, and he’s tough.”

Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedaily.com

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.

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Wyoming

(PHOTOS) Casper Holistic Expo packs the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds

Published

8 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

(PHOTOS) Casper Holistic Expo packs the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds

CASPER, Wyo. — There was magic, or something like it, in the air on Saturday as the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds presented the 2026 Casper Holistic Expo, Casper’s longest running holistic expo and a hallmark of the beginning of spring in Natrona County.

Countless vendors from Casper and beyond gathered with their goodies to present them to eager customers searching for something a little different.

The holistic expo featured crystal and metaphysical shops, tattoo and body piercing studios, henna and glitter tattoo studios, holistic shops, tarot readings, fortune tellers, magic and so much more. There was truly something for everyone, and Christina Kuhn, the lead organizer, said that nobody who came to the expo would leave disappointed.

“This actually started over 20 years ago,” Kuhn said. “I’ve been doing it for years. My mom did it for seven years before me. And Judy Ick, who actually does our photography, she did it before that. So it’s been a very long, very longstanding and growing event.”

Kuhn said that the Holistic Expo has grown exponentially over the years.

“When Judy passed it down to mom, there were 38 booths,” she said. “After mom passed it down to me, there were 78. Now I think we’re up to, like, 98.”

The booths are as eclectic as the people who run them. There’s magic, mysticism and moonlight; storytellers and palm readers; conversationalists and creators. There are CBD products, organic teas, energy testing, and even fudge.

“Some of this is kind of a special niche,” Kuhn shared, “but some of it is not. We’ve got a chiropractor. We’ve got people that are working with healing modalities. Some of it’s spiritual stuff. We’ve got crafts, too.”

There’s a wide variety of vendors and customers as the Holistic Expo, and Kuhn said she wouldn’t want it any other way. The most important thing they do, Kuhn said, is donate to local nonprofits.

“People can either pay the $5 door fee — anybody that’s 13 or over — or they can donate five nonperishable goods,” Kuhn said. “We started donating that to poverty resistance, and then we did City Park Church. This year we’re donating to the Wyoming Food for Thought Project.”

Kuhn said this was just a simple way to give back to the community, a community she and her business have been a part of for years. Kuhn owns a store in downtown Casper called A Place for Passion, and the Holistic Expo also allows her to bring some merch from her store and put in on display with a variety of other items. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend, she said, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

“Good lord, I’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said. “I helped my mom with it for ages and she wanted somebody that would carry on and keep expanding and doing well with it. Before I was helping run the show and managing it, I was a booth. I started sharing a booth with my mom because I only had a few things and I wasn’t sure how well they’d sell. But then it just expanded and took off, and now here I am.”

Kuhn said it means a lot that she’s able to continue the Holistic Expo for her mother.

“It’s nice to keep expanding something, especially something that contributes so much to the community,” she said. “There are so many people that come out and enjoy everything that they get here. And it’s a big opportunity for them to connect with others, to connect with people that have stuff they want to offer them.”

That, Kuhn said, is her favorite part of the Holistic Expo — meeting people.

“It’s just nice connecting with people and helping them out in any way that you can,” she said. “Everybody’s got their own knowledge, gifts, products that they’re putting out — services, whatever it is. So being able to share that with others is awesome. You’ve got to come check it out. It’s an awesome experience. There’s a little something for everyone.”

The Casper Holistic Expo is happening Saturday until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Industrial Building at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds.

Photos from the Holistic Expo can be seen below:

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Wyoming

Wyoming teen discovers rare and ancient megalodon shark tooth off Florida coast

Published

20 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming teen discovers rare and ancient megalodon shark tooth off Florida coast

A 6-inch megalodon shark tooth was found by a Wyoming teen during a dive trip off Manasota Key, Florida earlier this week.

Sixteen-year-old Aiden Andrews and his father Brian were on a guided dive with Fossil Junkies, a local fossil-hunting tour company.

Captain John Kreatsoulas told FOX 13 Tampa Bay reporter Kimberly Kuizon that while finding small megalodon teeth isn’t uncommon, finding one that size is quite rare.

Video captured the moments when Aiden and his father celebrated underwater after making the remarkable discovery.

Popularized by Hollywood monster movies, the Carcharocles megalodon was the largest shark to have ever lived, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

A 6-inch megalodon shark tooth was found by a Wyoming teen during a dive trip off Manasota Key, Florida. Fossil Junkies

Diver wearing an orange mask holding a large fossilized shark tooth. — Aiden Andrews, 16, celebrated with his father after making the remarkable discovery. Fossil Junkies

Scientists believe the largest megalodon reached up to 60 feet in length and weighed up to 50 tons.

And as Andrews can attest — they possessed teeth the size of a human hand.

According to the Smithsonian, megalodon lived between 23 and 3.6 million years ago across all of Earth’s oceans.

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Wyoming

Outdoor Fun Awaits At Local Parks With Izaak Walton League’s Hiking Series From April To September

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Outdoor Fun Awaits At Local Parks With Izaak Walton League’s Hiking Series From April To September

Hiking can be an activity that you enjoy doing on your own, but sometimes you need a little extra inspiration, and a group hike is exactly what you need. If you’re looking for a group to explore the outdoors with, the Charles E. Piersall chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America hiking group may be what you’re looking for.

The mission of the IWLA:

To engage the community in the conservation, restoration, and promotion of environmental protection, we focus on the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. This commitment is essential for a sustainable future, and activities like hiking help foster a connection with nature

The group is open to all ages, and even your pup can join in on the fun if they’re on a leash. There is a series of hikes planned beginning on April 1. Nope, this isn’t a prank; it is a real chance to meet other outdoor lovers and take in some of the area’s best hiking trails. The hikes are scheduled on the odd Wednesdays from April to September, weather permitting.

Join us to connect with others who appreciate the beauty of outdoor hiking and environmental advocacy hiking. Remember to bring drinking water, snacks, good walking shoes or boots, and a jacket. A walking stick or hiking poles can also be helpful.

Here are the hikes they have planned for this summer.

April 2026

Wednesday, April 1, 6 pm, Morad Park to Paradise Valley:
Wednesday, April 15, 6 pm, Edness K. Wilkins State Park:
Wednesday, April 29, 6 pm, Tate Pumphouse, Golf Course loop:

May 2026

June 2026

July 2026

Wednesday, July 1, 6 pm, Muddy Mountain, North Face:
Wednesday, July 15, 6 pm, Muddy Mountain, Beaver Ponds:
Wednesday, July 29, 6 pm, Casper Mountain, Biathlon:

August 2026

September 2026

16 Types Of Hikes Explained

7 Trails To Hike In Central Wyoming

There’s no doubt about it, the entire state of Wyoming is covered in amazing hiking trails. If you’re visiting central Wyoming here are 7 trails that you should check out. I’ve organized them from easier to harder, ending with Laramie Peak.

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