There has been a lot of talk about what to do about the sea lions that are eating way too many salmon at the Bonniville Dam here on the Columbia River.

Looks like someone took maters into their own hands...

KOMO:


http://www.komotv.com/news/18564659.html

Sea lions found shot at Columbia River traps

By KOMO Staff & News Services
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - State and federal authorities say they are investigating the deaths of six sea lions found dead at Columbia River traps. They appear to have been shot.

The bodies of four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were found at the traps early Sunday afternoon.

There were two California sea lions and one Steller sea lion at each of two traps just below the Bonneville Dam.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and federal investigators are treating the area as a crime scene.

Both species of sea lion are federally protected. But Oregon and Washington state are trapping some California sea lions to keep them from eating salmon at the dam.

The states had planned to euthanize up to 85 sea lions a year under a special federal permit, but the Humane Society of the United States won an emergency court order last month that allows the sea lions to be trapped but not killed this year.

The order remains in effect until a ruling is made by the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a few months.

Last week, a trapped sea lion died after being taken to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma for an examination.

I have mixed feeling about the situation. I do not want to deplete the salmon fishery, I do not fish for salmon, but I think it is a great part of out NW heritage. Now they have closed fishing for salmon off the coast of California and Oregon because there is simply no fish. On the otherhand I can not abide a law breaker. When someone does this it reflects badly on all sportsmen.

Now the Humane Society of the United States, not to be confused with the ASPCA Humane Society, has a $5000 reward for information.

QUOTE:
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and federal investigators are treating the area as a crime scene.

Gee, ya think?

You just have to wonder at what goes through peoples minds sometimes. "Hrm, Sea Lions eat fish. If I kill all the sea lions, there will be more fish! Perfect idea!"

Well, the state did get permission to kill up to 85 of them. I have seen video of a sea lion taking a fish off a guys line right at the boat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VhlaXIyeFA&feature=related .

I have no problem with killing them. My problem is that the courts and the WDFW are working this out and some goofbag goes and whacks a few while they are in the traps to be taken away. I can hear the opposition now crowing about how we do not care about anything, but our own gratification.

HSUS is evil. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the ones who shot the sea lions, just to give sport fishermen a bad rap.

We need to squash groups like HSUS and PETA. I can't believe how accepted into the mainstream they've become. They must have masters of marketing working for them.

I hope the salmon rebound.

Brian

Well,

This is a side note to leaky waders. I more than just agree with you on PETA(never herd of HSUS). Before me and my mom were around my moms boyfriend used to own some black bears(we had mountain lions as pets too). Great pets apparently and he had them for years. But one day he found them sick and they eventually died. The doc came out and said they were poisoned. I am sure it was done by some animal rights nut. What I think is insane about these groups is they tend to believe an animal is better off dead than in captivity. I think any life is good no matter the quality.

They also try and release captive animals not knowing that they have no experience fending for them selves in the wild.

Crazy stuff.

Now the news media is reporting they found a slug in one sea lion, but it was an old wound and they can not find any bullet holes in any of the dead sea lions.

They have no idea how they died or how the cage doors got closed.

They have suspended trapping until 2009...somebody got their wish.

I compared the killing of the sea lions to the carnage involved in killing a hundred carp in a night with a bow and arrow, but got no response to that.

We are very selective about what upsets us. If baby harp seals were not so darn cute would there be such a fuss about clubbing them?