20 dead sea lions in 2 months in Northern Oregon, South Washington

GEARHART, Ore. – About 20 dead sea lions — most with gunshot wounds — have been found in northern Oregon and southern Washington in just two months, a marine mammal researcher says.

Dalin D'Alessandro tells The Oregonian that the shooting surge since the beginning of April is claiming both California and Steller sea lions. She's a Portland State University research assistant with the Northern Oregon-Southern Washington Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

The dead creatures have been found near the mouth of the Columbia River and a few miles to the north and south.

D'Alessandro thinks the killing is due to fishermen frustrated over competition for their catch. While it's typical to see a slight increase in dead sea lions around the opening of salmon season, recent numbers are about four times the norm for the same time period, she said.

Last month, a federal judge rejected a request to halt the killing of California sea lions that eat protected salmon at Oregon's Bonneville Dam. That program allows Idaho, Oregon and Washington authorities to kill targeted sea lions.

California sea lions are federally protected as marine mammals, but not as endangered or threatened species. The area's Steller sea lions are currently federally protected as a threatened species.

"It is brazen that these people will shoot these animals that are federally .... http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/05/20-dead-sea-lions-in-2-months-in-n-ore-s-wash/

A good start.

Long way to go,but like said above "A Good Start".Good luck,
SZ

'Unprecedented' killings of protected sea lions; fishermen suspected

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/0...ermen-suspected

Why would you ever suspect fishermen?

I hope that's a joke.

Fish on...

Todd

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

JD

Saving the government money.

Only 20,come on step up the program, we have a long ways to go.

They should sell tags and let people hunt them. They could use barbless bullets! Shoot and release!

Indeed it will save the government some $$'s. The number of dead sea lions recovered should be substracted from the total number the States are authorized to kill. Further, NOAA might even estimate the number illegally killed but not recovered, and substract that from the total.

Who knows, they might already be at their seasonal limit. Sorta like the annual sping Chinook allocation. If so, do the Tribes get to shoot 50% of them....?

20? Musta ran out of ammo.

fp

couple of decent months but they could do better.

Yup...and a poacher is a poacher.

Fisherman/poachers don't kill sea lions..........................

Guns kill sea lions.

Yep, just heard on King 5 news..there are to many guns in the city of Seattle..they are killin people! Now, they are killin Sea Lions too..DAM!

Don't think that'll change the number that they are taking care of at the dam, those animals are repeat offenders that have been trapped, tagged and witnessed chomping on fish. I've heard from Marine Bios that many of the Sea Lions they find dead have been shot and not always is it the cause of death. They are some big animals that take a well placed shot or a very large caliber rifle to put them down...they must also be some tough sum bitches.

Awesome news

Commercial fisherman are under the title of fisherman to.

Lead poisoning.
Happens every Spring.

Sad that the people have to run amok of the law to do what should be done.

BTW, nice shootin'!!

Last week while I was out fishin', there was a sea lion dead and floating. I doubt anybody on one of the commercial boats trolling for salmon had anything to do with that.