In brief: Wyoming to trap, monitor wolves

CASPER, Wyo. – Wildlife officials monitoring gray wolf populations will be capturing the animals in parts of northwestern Wyoming.

The Casper Star-Tribune reported the wolves will be immobilized, processed and released on site and monitored. All areas where the trapping will be taking place will be marked with warning signs.

Information gained from the trapping will be used to assess the wolf populations in Wyoming and to direct wolf management.

In April, Gov. Matt Mead released a report prepared by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that said there were at least 306 wolves in at least 43 packs – including more than 23 breeding pairs – in Wyoming at the end of 2013.

Of that total, at least 95 wolves in at least 11 packs were in Yellowstone National Park.

Park warns visitors of avalanches

MARBLEMOUNT, Wash. – Officials are advising backcountry visitors to North Cascades National Park to be careful because of hazardous snow conditions during the next several weeks.

Park geologist Jon Riedel said heavy snow buildup late in the winter combined with warm temperatures in recent weeks have made avalanche conditions especially dangerous this year.

His team has witnessed numerous avalanches and cornice failures while out surveying throughout the Cascade and Olympic Mountains.

Park officials want backcountry enthusiasts to be extra careful when going out near or above the snowline. Visitors should have avalanche awareness and hazard training and carry avalanche safety gear such as beacons and snow probes. They also shouldn’t travel alone.

Vancouver weighs oil terminal plan

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The City Council in Vancouver is weighing a resolution to reject a project to build the Northwest’s largest oil-handling terminal.

Tesoro Corp. and Savage Companies are proposing a terminal at the Port of Vancouver that could handle as much as 380,000 barrels of crude per day.

The Columbian reported the resolution calls on the port to end its lease with the companies and urges state regulators to recommend against siting the terminal.

Critics are concerned about potential oil spills and explosions, and other environment and safety risks.

Port officials have said the project would be an economic boon to the community, while company officials say safety is a priority for them.

The City Council doesn’t have the authority to change the lease with Tesoro-Savage.

It’s taking up the draft resolution Monday. A vote is expected in June.

SUV plows into home, killing man

SEATTLE – A King County sheriff’s spokesman said a 68-year-old woman is in jail after an SUV plowed through a Sammamish waterfront home and crashed into Lake Sammamish on Friday evening.

Sgt. DB Gates said the woman was booked into jail early Saturday for investigation of one count vehicular homicide and two counts vehicular assault.

She said detectives are reconstructing what happened. Results from toxicology tests are pending.

The dead man and the woman and man injured were inside the home when the collision happened. Authorities said the car plowed through a room in the home, possibly the living room, and then onto the deck and dock.

The SUV driver and a 3-year-old boy in the car were uninjured.

Gates said the man who was killed was either the driver’s husband or partner.

Man, 22, dies after being hit by boat

BOISE – Law enforcement authorities said a 22-year-old man from Texas died after he was struck by a motorboat.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office said the unidentified man reportedly fell out of the boat at Lucky Peak Reservoir before he was hit.

The Idaho Statesman reported the accident happened Friday afternoon.

Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Andrea Dearden said marine patrol deputies tried to resuscitate the man and he was transported by air ambulance, but he never regained consciousness.

Dearden said there was no indication of impairment or foul play.