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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.
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