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"Sea lions weren't killed by gunshots, officials now say"
"In Oregon, federal authorities now say that six sea lions found dead in traps near the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River were not killed by gunshots. Officials initially pointed the finger at salmon fisherman angry that their livelihood was being gobbled up.
After necropsies and x-rays, the weekend deaths of the animals — which included two endangered Steller sea lions and one California sea lion pup — are a mystery. No evidence of recent gunshots was found, although there were indications of previous firearms injuries: metal fragments in soft tissue near the necks of two animals and a metal slug in the blubber of one. Possible bite wounds also were found.
The body of a seventh sea lion was found yesterday farther downstream, near Portland. It's not yet known how it died.
(Photo of sea lions in cages on the Columbia River, separating Oregon and Washington, by Don Ryan, AP.)"
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Posted by Michael Winter at 06:17 PM/ET, May 07, 2008
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/05/sea-lions-...
"In Oregon, federal authorities now say that six sea lions found dead in traps near the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River were not ... more -
Sea lions shot dead on Columbia River
Six federally protected sea lions were apparently shot to death on the Columbia River as they lay in open traps put out to ensnare the animals. State and federal authorities are investigating.
The discovery came one day after three elephant seals were found shot to death at a breeding ground in central California.
On Sunday, the carcasses of four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were found below the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River on the border of Oregon and Washington.
The six animals found dead Sunday appear to have been shot by somebody on the Washington side during the night, said Brian Gorman, a spokesman for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Two closed cages each contained the carcasses of two California sea lions and one Steller sea lion, he said.
Necropsies were planned for all the animals, and the area was being treated as a crime scene by state and federal agencies, Gorman said.
Investigators will try to determine whether there is any link between the animals killed Sunday on the Columbia River and the elephant seals killed Saturday near San Simeon in California, Gorman said.
Washington and Oregon have been granted federal authorization to capture or kill as many as 85 sea lions a year for five years at the base of the dam, where they feed on endangered salmon headed upriver to spawn.
Fishermen and American Indian tribes have pushed to protect the salmon and remove the sea lions, by lethal force if necessary, forcing a delicate balancing act by the federal government.
Seven California sea lions were trapped on the Columbia River starting April 24 after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved their capture. One died during a medical inspection before being transferred to a marine amusement park.
The Humane Society of the United States has gone to court to challenge the authorization, with another hearing set for May 8. Until a judge rules, no animals may be legally killed. Six federally protected sea lions were apparently shot to death on the Columbia River as they lay in open traps put out to ensnare the... more -
Could sea lions on death row get pardon?
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Humane Society of the United States wants a federal judge to prevent the capturing or killing of sea lions feasting on salmon a Columbia River dam.
The group said in a motion filed in U.S. District Court on Friday that agents could begin taking the sea lions as soon as next weekend, and asked for a permanent injunction. If the request is denied, the group said it would likely would seek a temporary restraining order to be effective before Friday.
The order encourages capturing the animals if possible and finding homes for them in aquariums and ocean theme parks but said they can be euthanized after 48 hours if no homes are found.
Is the authorization to capture and kill sea lions too outrageous of a solution to protect endangered salmon? Is there not a more humane approach to this? PORTLAND, Ore. - The Humane Society of the United States wants a federal judge to prevent the capturing or killing of sea lions feasti... more
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