SEATTLE – Washington state wildlife officials said eight sea lions have been found dead in recent weeks — all apparently shot.
KING-TV reported that both the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are investigating the deaths.
The bodies of seven sea lions with bullet wounds were recently found on the Nisqually River in the Puget Sound region.
On Monday, a sea lion was found dead on West Seattle’s Lincoln Park beach. The animal protection group Seal Sitters says a necropsy showed that the sea lion had suffered a shark bite and had twisted intestines in addition to a bullet wound.
Investigators said they do not know who was responsible.
KING said one of the Nisqually casualties was a Steller sea lion, protected under the Endangered Species Act. The one found in West Seattle was a California sea lion, protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.