'Crocodile Hunter' family to help fund whale research at OSU

Eugene native Terri Irwin, widow of TV personality and conservationist Steve Irwin.CORVALLIS -- The Irwin family of "Crocodile Hunter" fame is expected in Corvallis this week to announce a donation to Oregon State University for two humpback whale research projects.

Terri Irwin is a Eugene native. She and her late husband, Steve, and their children are noted animal wildlife conservationists.

The Irwin family is expected to sign an agreement with Oregon State's Marine Mammal Institute on Wednesday to fund the humpback whale research projects that will gather information on the threatened marine mammal species.

Research teams will head to Alaska and the American Samoas to study humpback whale breeding, foraging, migration and stock identification.