MSNBC.com: Sea lions killed on Columbia River - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 05-05-2008, 08:23 AM

MSNBC.com

Sea lions shot dead on Columbia River

Killings come amid a battle over salmon protection on West Coast

The Associated Press
updated 1:23 a.m. PT, Mon., May. 5, 2008

State agents have begun trapping Columbia River sea lions for relocation, mainly to zoos, to keep them from eating endangered salmon. This photo, taken April 24, shows a captured sea lion being prepared for removal on the Columbia River near Bonneville Dam in North Bonneville, Wash.

PORTLAND, Ore. - 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, which eat endangered salmon. State and federal authorities said they were investigating.

The discovery came one day after three elephant seals were found shot to death at a breeding ground in central California.

Trapping will be suspended during the investigation, said Rick Hargrave, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who was at the scene Sunday.

The carcasses of the four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were found Sunday around noon below the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River on the border of Oregon and Washington.

The six animals 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 open 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.

Elephant seals killed in California
Investigators will try to determine whether there is any link between the animals killed Sunday on the Columbia and the elephant seals killed Saturday near San Simeon in California, Gorman said.

Seven California sea lions were trapped on the Columbia 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.

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.

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.

"We're really shocked," said Sharon Young, a Humane Society spokeswoman, who learned about the sea lion deaths from a reporter.

"We're a nation of laws, and we should expect people to abide by them," Young said.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Zoneboy · 05-05-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

How do you think the Salmon can be protected without killing more Sea
Lions?

It was the nature of the killings, The Sea Lions were Federally protected and had no business being killed.

Zoneboy · 05-05-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

If Washington and Oregon have federal authorization to do this, then how
are they breaking the law?

Read the article, The sea lions were not killed by any federal authority.

Lee · 05-05-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

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 legally killed.

"We're really shocked," said Sharon Young, a Humane Society spokeswoman, who learned about the sea lion deaths from a reporter.

"We're a nation of laws, and we should expect people to abide by them," Young said.

This is very sad. I hope this is investigated.

InspectorExstead · 05-05-2008, 07:18 PM

what the heck! why would anyone kill sea lions? i hope they find out who did this.

ponytail · 05-07-2008, 06:46 AM

There is too much overfishing going on. The commerical fishermen are depleting the ocean. These sea lions have to eat too!

05-05-2008, 08:23 AM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	MSNBC.com: Sea lions killed on Columbia River MSNBC.com Sea lions shot dead on Columbia River Killings come amid a battle over salmon protection on West Coast The Associated Press updated 1:23 a.m. PT, Mon., May. 5, 2008 State agents have begun trapping Columbia River sea lions for relocation, mainly to zoos, to keep them from eating endangered salmon. This photo, taken April 24, shows a captured sea lion being prepared for removal on the Columbia River near Bonneville Dam in North Bonneville, Wash. PORTLAND, Ore. - 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, which eat endangered salmon. State and federal authorities said they were investigating. The discovery came one day after three elephant seals were found shot to death at a breeding ground in central California. Trapping will be suspended during the investigation, said Rick Hargrave, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who was at the scene Sunday. The carcasses of the four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were found Sunday around noon below the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River on the border of Oregon and Washington. The six animals 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 open 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. Elephant seals killed in California Investigators will try to determine whether there is any link between the animals killed Sunday on the Columbia and the elephant seals killed Saturday near San Simeon in California, Gorman said. Seven California sea lions were trapped on the Columbia 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. 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. 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. "We're really shocked," said Sharon Young, a Humane Society spokeswoman, who learned about the sea lion deaths from a reporter. "We're a nation of laws, and we should expect people to abide by them," Young said. © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

05-05-2008, 07:18 PM	#5
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	what the heck! why would anyone kill sea lions? i hope they find out who did this.
	__________________ They killed my sister because she asked: "Where is my vote?" http://sosiran.com/ http://tapeshhd.com/index.php

05-07-2008, 06:46 AM	#6
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	There is too much overfishing going on. The commerical fishermen are depleting the ocean. These sea lions have to eat too!