Protected sea lions found shot at Columbia River traps
Monday, May 5, 2008 8:45 AM PDT
By The Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articlePORTLAND — The deaths of six sea lions are under investigation after the bodies of the federally protected animals were found in open traps on the Columbia River and appeared to have been shot.
The carcasses of four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were found Sunday about noon.
The discovery came one day after three elephant seals were found shot to death at a breeding ground in central California.
All three species are federally protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. But Steller sea lions are also protected under the Endangered Species Act, authorities said.
Oregon and Washington state are trapping some California sea lions to keep them from eating salmon at Bonneville Dam, just east of Portland.
Seven California sea lions were trapped starting April 24 after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved their capture. One died during a medical inspection before transfer to a Sea World park.
Trapping operations will be suspended during the investigation, said Rick Hargrave, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman, who was at the scene.
The six animals found dead Sunday appear to have been shot by somebody on the Washington state side of the Columbia during the night, according to Brian Gorman, regional spokesman for National Marine Fisheries Service, or NOAA Fisheries, in Seattle.
Two California sea lions and one Steller sea lion each were found in two open cages next to each other on the river, 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.
Oregon and Washington have been granted federal authorization to capture or kill up to 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.
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 killed.
"We're really shocked," said Sharon Young, society spokeswoman, who learned about the deaths from a reporter.
"We're a nation of laws and we should expect people to abide by them," Young said.
Investigators will try to determine if there is any link between the animals killed Sunday on the Columbia and the elephant seals killed Saturday near San Simeon on the central California coast, Gorman said.
A Person wrote on May 4, 2008 5:35 PM:
" is this really a surprise?....The inhumane society and the california wackos keep interfering,so is it any wonder someone has finally got fed up and done it themselves? "
Awesome wrote on May 4, 2008 5:41 PM:
" Keep up the good work... just be careful next time, as they may be looking for you. Any humans expressing remorse for your good deed deserve the same treatment! Hat's off to a job well done! "
Hahaha wrote on May 4, 2008 6:39 PM:
" It's about time. The traps make it easier to draw a bead on them. I'm still not seeing the big deal in killing those worthless sea lions, we don't eat "sea lion" but we love our Salmon. By the way when did humans become "less natrual". The strong survive not the ones protected by tree huggers... or sea lion huggers. "
Dixie Normiss wrote on May 4, 2008 6:44 PM:
" And people are calling PETA, The Humane Society and Greenpeace whackos? I suppose it probably was second nature to shoot penned up, defenseless animals. Not much different from hunting elk or deer I suppose. I hope the hickory-shirt wearing, Skoal chewing hillbilly that did this understands how much he has damaged his/her position on the sea lion issue. Looks bad, real bad.... "
OAB wrote on May 4, 2008 7:06 PM:
" It's a good start but we need more than six taken out of the system. "
ReDixie Normiss wrote on May 4, 2008 7:22 PM:
" The article said they were "at"the traps, not " in " the traps. So what about those poor defensless salmon and smelt for that matter? "
What A Mentality wrote on May 4, 2008 7:23 PM:
" Wow you guys are something cheering this kind of killing on. What kind of a person gets a thrill out of killing an animal that is in a cage. Pretty sick if you ask me. The great American hunter! Sounds like greed to me, get over it most fish are killed by fishermen not sea lions. Maybe we should cage fishermen. "
Humane Society wrote on May 4, 2008 7:26 PM:
" Is anyone taking a look at the Humane Society for this act. It sounds like their style. They have killed captured animals before and it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that they whacked these sea lions to give the fishermen, who are calling for more stringent action, a bad name. NOAA officers really need to take a look at that option. "
These are surplus sealions wrote on May 4, 2008 8:14 PM:
" I am a steelhead fisherman and as big an environmentalist, liberal democrat that you'll find. But the sealions must BE SHOT. This fool plan to put them in zoo's is just ridiculous. How many can be maintained in zoo's? DESTROY THEM, it is unnatural, especially with the dams screwing everything up, destroy them, yesterday. Does anyone think this would be an issue before the marine mamial protection act of 1972? It wasn't necessary then and it isn't now, the seal that would be destroyed are immatue males and would have no effect on the population. SHOOT THEM!!! "
FanInTheStands wrote on May 4, 2008 9:14 PM:
" The killing of these animals at this point is completely wrong. The only thing it is going to do is provide even more ammo for the Humane Society, PETA and the rest of the tree hugging groups our there to fight against the removal of these animals. I agree, they need to be removed, but leave it to the people who have been hired to do it. Sealion C265, as it is tagged, has put on 500 pounds since being captured in March to being recaptured in May...I wonder what he has been eating. Obviously there is a problem, but vigilante warfare is not the answer. "
To Shooter wrote on May 4, 2008 9:36 PM:
" It was probably ill advised to murder endangered species. Is there a fine for killing an endangered animal, or jail time? If so, it may have been smart to research the difference between Steller sea lions and California sea lions. "
Citizen wrote on May 4, 2008 10:29 PM:
" I understand the dismay and anger that some fishermen and sportsmen feel at the fishing season being shut down.
And I am not saying the sea lions are not part of the problem.
But to be fair you must admit that for Dick Cheney to aid and abet the diversion of Columbia River water to the east side brought about the demise of much more fish than the sea lions did. They were warned by biologists NOT to divert the water because it would collapse the fish count.
They diverted it. The fish collapsed completely.
Of course Dick Cheney's office ORDERED that the report of the ecological damage NOT be made public OR ELSE. Tune in to Air America Radio's Ring of Fire for today's story about this. You can find it on a reasonable ipod site or on the www.ringoffire.com site in a day or two in the archives.
Hold your temper men. It's not worth going to Federal Prison for. "
And I am not saying the sea lions are not part of the problem.
But to be fair you must admit that for Dick Cheney to aid and abet the diversion of Columbia River water to the east side brought about the demise of much more fish than the sea lions did. They were warned by biologists NOT to divert the water because it would collapse the fish count.
They diverted it. The fish collapsed completely.
Of course Dick Cheney's office ORDERED that the report of the ecological damage NOT be made public OR ELSE. Tune in to Air America Radio's Ring of Fire for today's story about this. You can find it on a reasonable ipod site or on the www.ringoffire.com site in a day or two in the archives.
Hold your temper men. It's not worth going to Federal Prison for. "
Jackie wrote on May 4, 2008 10:33 PM:
" Another bleeding heart liberal here. But I agree. Shot them and sink them so that the sturgeon can eat them. Turn about is fair play. Anyone have a reciepe for sea lions? "
Terry wrote on May 5, 2008 12:31 AM:
" I just received my PUD bill included was an article. It stated we pay a couple hundred million dollars a year to protect salmon. these sea lions are eating them. Someone stops six of them and we get to pay how much to find that person? If you think California sea loins are endangered look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf4P5r1LnBQ "
Learn how to read... wrote on May 5, 2008 6:49 AM:
" The article states the animals were in "open traps." What part of "open" means caged in, penned or anything similar? On another note, congratulations to the shooter on a job well done. You are amazing and in a single day could take care of what will take government, with the help of the inhumane society, about 20 years. Your actions are being applauded throughout the Lower Columbia region. "
Agreed wrote on May 5, 2008 7:45 AM:
" I agree that the Human Society has become as fringe as PETA, and that they would liekly stoop to this level to further promote their fanactical view. I'm not saying they did this, just that it is one possibility that cannot be overlooked. THe ends justify the means kind of thing, and these groups are best at it. Earth Liberation Front is the king, burning down huge houses to protest the harvesting of timber, and many of these liberal fringe groups are adopting the same model. The Humane Society should stick to picking up dogs and cats, and leave management of fisheries to the professionals. "
remember wrote on May 5, 2008 8:40 AM:
" humans are second class animals now. We should not be allowed to survive. We must exterminate humanity so that mother earf can return to its pristine beauty. Humans are the polluters of the planet, especially americans!!
....Once we are gone the earf will be at peace!! Then the giant meteor can come and blast the planet to smitherines and nobody will suffer.:):)
"
....Once we are gone the earf will be at peace!! Then the giant meteor can come and blast the planet to smitherines and nobody will suffer.:):)
"
Pierce Co. Repub. wrote on May 5, 2008 8:41 AM:
" This very well could be the work of the Humane Society or PETA - They've done it before... They'll do anything to further they're psychotic agenda. "
History wrote on May 5, 2008 8:48 AM:
" When personal pets overrun a neighborhood. When little Kitties are born in excess out of wedlock, tiny mewling puppies are taken to the "Humane" Society to be given new homes, what happens? The society puts prices on these animals that no one can afford, and when they don't sell?
Bingo! They kill them!
Reason? Overpopulation, demands extinction!
Hello?
"
Bingo! They kill them!
Reason? Overpopulation, demands extinction!
Hello?
"
reason wrote on May 5, 2008 9:49 AM:
" I agree with killing the sea lions, however this course of action was ignorant. This will just give peta and whomever else is battling for the sea lions more political ammo to fight against even trapping them. Now I would guess they will remove the traps, and at least until the investigation is up nothing will be done to help or salmon. The remaining sea lions will have free reign! Let them sort it out in court so they can be killed legally. "
SAD SAD SAD wrote on May 5, 2008 10:33 AM:
" It is sad to see that protecting sealions is more important than peoples lively hoods. When will we ever wake up and tell the granola crunching, tree hugging, pot smoking lefties to go to hell and take care of the things that need to be done. What will it take? Maybe the extermination of our way of life will be what it takes. I just hope its not to late by then. Kill the sea lions, shoot the preditory birds and do it now!! I'm sure some poor shmuck could use a new sea lion fur coat with a sea gull feathered hat! "
Yes wrote on May 5, 2008 11:06 AM:
" RE DIXIE: I agree, only in an uneducated, drug infested place would you find so many "people" that love to kill animals. Here and in parts of the south. In all other hunting places I've seen, the "people" have great respect for the wildlife. Bring it on...savages. "
RE Yes wrote on May 5, 2008 11:34 AM:
" It's not about killing animals. It's about saving the salmon. I'll bet you have never been to the Bonneville to see the carnage that is taking place. Historical salmon runs on the Columbia are being wiped out. Not by pollution. Not by Dams. Not by man but by the sea lions. Are you telling me that the sea lions are more important than the salmon and smelt runs on the Columbia. I do think you will be in a very small minority among people who live along the Columbia. "
Dumb move wrote on May 5, 2008 12:35 PM:
" Anyone who thinks this was a great idea hasn't thought it out very much.
Those sea lions weren't going to eat anymore salmon, period. They were on their way to the zoo.
Thanks to this [**whoops**], though, the trapping program has been suspended, and a bunch of sea lions that would have been caught are now out there eating salmon, just like they were before.
Add to that the fact that the PETA types now have more ammo to use against trapping or euthanizing the sea lions.
Just another example of a stupid move by an obviously stupid dude, cutting off his nose to spite his face...the worse part is that he screwed all of us, not just himself.
Sportfishermen ought to be the ones looking to find this guy and exercise some vigilante justice on his ass...the PETA types ought to be having a parade and naming him Grand Marshall.
"
Those sea lions weren't going to eat anymore salmon, period. They were on their way to the zoo.
Thanks to this [**whoops**], though, the trapping program has been suspended, and a bunch of sea lions that would have been caught are now out there eating salmon, just like they were before.
Add to that the fact that the PETA types now have more ammo to use against trapping or euthanizing the sea lions.
Just another example of a stupid move by an obviously stupid dude, cutting off his nose to spite his face...the worse part is that he screwed all of us, not just himself.
Sportfishermen ought to be the ones looking to find this guy and exercise some vigilante justice on his ass...the PETA types ought to be having a parade and naming him Grand Marshall.
"
Mr. Crass wrote on May 5, 2008 12:49 PM:
" The true irony here is that if it had been a fisherman in a boat that was shot dead there wouldn't be a third of the cops investigating the scene.....Sick world, isn't it;) "
Robert Fugman wrote on May 5, 2008 1:10 PM:
" RE yes? Not about killing animals? It's all about killing animals!
Do you really think the sea lions are the cause of the salmon decline? Simply incredible! Dams have no effect? Simply incredible. What do you think blocks the passage way of the salmon so that the sea lions have an easy time of it? Carnage at Bonneville? Is that a dam there? Is the carnage there? Add it up, genius'.
My father and I fished the Columbia fifty years ago. He said then the gill nets and the dams are ruining the salmon runs. If you think the sea lions are really the cause, then why was there no effect on the runs for thousands of years until the dams and gill nets came into existence. Dumb sea lions back then? Man has had no effect?
"Sportsmen" what a laugher. There's no sport about killing. There used to be a purpose for it before you could buy anything you'd ever want in a store. But now, it's blood lust, the term "sport" is used because it signifies good clean fun. Killing animals is just good clean fun. Mommas will certainly be proud of their brave little boys.
The "sportsmen" killed penned up defenseless animals. The people committing and commending this action belong in mental hospitals. And, you're even picking on the wrong species! Incredible! "
Do you really think the sea lions are the cause of the salmon decline? Simply incredible! Dams have no effect? Simply incredible. What do you think blocks the passage way of the salmon so that the sea lions have an easy time of it? Carnage at Bonneville? Is that a dam there? Is the carnage there? Add it up, genius'.
My father and I fished the Columbia fifty years ago. He said then the gill nets and the dams are ruining the salmon runs. If you think the sea lions are really the cause, then why was there no effect on the runs for thousands of years until the dams and gill nets came into existence. Dumb sea lions back then? Man has had no effect?
"Sportsmen" what a laugher. There's no sport about killing. There used to be a purpose for it before you could buy anything you'd ever want in a store. But now, it's blood lust, the term "sport" is used because it signifies good clean fun. Killing animals is just good clean fun. Mommas will certainly be proud of their brave little boys.
The "sportsmen" killed penned up defenseless animals. The people committing and commending this action belong in mental hospitals. And, you're even picking on the wrong species! Incredible! "
Bubba wrote on May 5, 2008 1:18 PM:
" That's it, shoot a defensless animal in a cage. The very best of human behavior. Face it, HUMANS screwed up the salmon population, not Sealions. Just another example of small minded cretins who seem to think that just because they are human they can destroy everything else in the world to satisfy their greed. "
Re Fugman Bubba wrote on May 5, 2008 1:50 PM:
" No one has ever said that man did not screw up the salmon runs. Not one fisherman that I know has ever said that. Not one sportsman. Absolutely man is to blame. So what is your solution? Remove all of society in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho? Now that's going to happen. Tear down the damns when they are the heart of the Northwest economy and life. Yeah I think that's a smart idea. That the problem with guys, you never live in reality. Reality is that man is here and he isn't going anywhere. The salmon need to be protected, so that scientific attempts to rebuild their runs can take place. Predators that are 90 miles out of their element need to be removed. I'm all for trapping and moving if it works. You and I both know it won't. So are you just going to sacrifice the salmon above the Bonneville? The dams aren't going anywhere. Man isn't going anywhere. So which part of the equation, man, dam or sea lion is removable? Even a brain surgeon like you should be able to figure that one out. "
Bubba wrote on May 5, 2008 3:00 PM:
" Never said I had a solution, just that shooting defensless animals in a cage is about as low as it gets. Wonder if it was a "sportsman" who took this illegal action? We screwed it up, now we have to live with consequences. Better start eating that farmed fish 'cause the wild ones won't be around much longer. By the way, removing the sea lions is at best a very short term fix. Obviously they are fairly intelligent so you don't suppose when all the ones at the dam today are killed some others might figure it out and come for a snack? Oh right, just keep killing them, that'll solve the problem. And how long have they been working on those "scientific" solutions? Kind of like the ones they're using for the elk on St. Helens??? Perhaps there is no solution to the mess man has made of this one and we'll have to wait for Mother Nature to fix it. I'll bet we won't like her solution very much. "
Yeah you dont have a solution wrote on May 5, 2008 3:40 PM:
" Well at least you can admit that. So great, take the money we have to solve the issue and put it into lawyer's pockets in the legal system. How smart is that? The Liberal Democrat-back eco-terrorist groups like Humane Society of the United States don't want a solution. That would eliminate a political fight that they love. Just as Bubba said they won't ever offer a solution. Thanks for finally admitting that you aren't smart enough to be part of the solution Bubba. Why don't you get out of the way and let people who have ideas try to work it out. "
Robert Fugman wrote on May 5, 2008 4:17 PM:
" re fugman bubba,
Yeah I have a solution. Stop commercial fishing in the territorial waters of the entire Pacific Ocean of the United States for ten years. The sea lions come here because their home feeding grounds have been over fished for decades. And, it isn't the "sports" fishermen who are doing that. It's the commercial fishing industry. In other words, there are no fish where sea lions normally feed. So rather than die they find fish where they can. And, the dams make fishing easy for them. Yes someone on this board did say that sea lions were responsible for the condition of salmon runs today. A comment clearly not based on the facts. For the commercial fishermen the end is either now or a little bit later when the fish are gone. The dams stay, the people stay, the fish stay and the sea lions can go home to eat. If, we stop commercial fishing, now. "
Yeah I have a solution. Stop commercial fishing in the territorial waters of the entire Pacific Ocean of the United States for ten years. The sea lions come here because their home feeding grounds have been over fished for decades. And, it isn't the "sports" fishermen who are doing that. It's the commercial fishing industry. In other words, there are no fish where sea lions normally feed. So rather than die they find fish where they can. And, the dams make fishing easy for them. Yes someone on this board did say that sea lions were responsible for the condition of salmon runs today. A comment clearly not based on the facts. For the commercial fishermen the end is either now or a little bit later when the fish are gone. The dams stay, the people stay, the fish stay and the sea lions can go home to eat. If, we stop commercial fishing, now. "
Exactly..... wrote on May 5, 2008 4:55 PM:
" Man isn't going anywhere and neither are the dams. If a few sealions have to be put down so be it. "
Eat Something Else wrote on May 5, 2008 4:55 PM:
" Her is an idea, learn to eat something else. I have lived in the Northwest for almost 50 years and I rarely if ever eat salmon, there are other food groups you know. Trust me fishermen you can survive on other food, what is this incredible addiction to going out and catching fish anyway. Perhaps it is time to move on we don't have to survive on fishing anymore. I bet if we stopped fishing both commercially and as sportsmen the fish would recover, sealions or not. This is not 1808 it is 2008, you can live on something else. Remove the sealions but why do we as humans have to kill everything? Maybe alittle less greed now will lead to being able to fish again in the future. "
ka wrote on May 5, 2008 5:03 PM:
" I personnely think the Humane Soc. did it to get their way. They will do anything to get what they want. "
Bubba wrote on May 5, 2008 5:16 PM:
" Oh geez, get off your high horse. The only solution you've offered is to shoot the sea lions. Yeah, I admit that there are things I don't know about and don't think we can fix, no matter what. Since you are such a font of wisdom why not enlighten the rest of us about your grand "ideas" to solve the problem. Just make sure you leave shooting defenseless caged animals off the table. Seems there's plenty of dentally challenged rednecks around that want to go there, how about some intelligent discourse for a change. I remain the incurable optimist but doubt that Cowlitz County can rise to the occasion. "
Maybe Just maybe wrote on May 5, 2008 5:30 PM:
" It was a murder suicide within the seals,a family tragity within the seal community, afterall seals have the rite to keep and bare arms, humans dont,,rite.So how could of humans have dome this travesty. "
Voice of Reason wrote on May 5, 2008 6:19 PM:
" Six is a small number. Six is also just a small start. Wipe em out - blow their brains out - splatter em all over... that's what we need! We don't need PETA or the Inhumane Society to put a stop to everything until every last fish is gone. That is what they - apparently - want. The least that can be done is for every ounce of the fresh meat to be enjoyed. Let us enjoy the fresh meat and blubber while it lasts. After this weekend, it may unfortunately be awhile before fresh sea lion again hits the market. "
no easy options wrote on May 5, 2008 8:10 PM:
" I understand that the sealions are not hunting in a natural system, but I think that the low salmon numbers cannot be just the fault of the sealions. Humans have done more to over fish, divert waterways, build dams, etc. to damage the ecosystem than a few "trouble" sealions could ever do. I am not sure what a viable option can be, but I don't think it is entirely the fault of a predator when we change their ecosystem. They do what comes naturally, and if it comes to them on a silver platter, all the better. They are only doing what we do. Guttony happens when things, in this case, hunting, comes easy. That said, I do feel for the fishermen who's livelihoods are at stake. "
Man v. Wild wrote on May 6, 2008 9:55 AM:
" It is completely and utterly insane that we install dams for OUR human use and then we spend HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars trying to "fix" our impact on the area and the environment. We have seen more money dumped into the sea lion issue than we have dumped into our local school systems or housing for the homeless! The sea lions are overpopulated and need to be cut back in LARGE NUMBERS! They destroy the salmon runs and ARE NOT native in these numbers to the area; they have been drawn in by OUR footprint on the area. Suck it up, folks. IF YOU WANT THE POWER and you flip the switch, you better be ready to kill off the sea lions. When you are ready to quit flipping that switch - then talk about the way you want to save the poor sea lions from a fate that you flipping the switch has created. "
Just Me wrote on May 6, 2008 11:13 AM:
" You know, if we HUMANS didn't fish the salmon into near extinction, if we HUMANS didn't take away so much of the sea lions food from the oceans, if we HUMANS actually gave back more than we take from the earth and her resources, maybe, just maybe, the sea lions and other animals wouldn't HAVE to 'encroach' on us so much. I find it disgusting that the Native Americans in this area are so up in arms over the lack of their precious salmon while giving NO thought to the endangered sea lions. It shows just how little THEY really care for the earth and all her creatures, although that is what they're SUPPOSED to care about, not jsut one or two species because it lines their pockets. "
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