More necropsies to be performed by WDFW
Feb/16/10 11:42 AM
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plans to respond and necropsy an additional four California sea lions to investigate cause of death. Please check back for updates when available.
Authorities from NOAA and WDFW would like to stress that it is extremely difficult to tell upon a visual examination if a marine mammal has been shot. A bullet entry wound is quite small and particularly difficult to see on a fur-covered animal, much less one that has been dead in the water or on shore for some time; fur tends to rub off in circular spots and scavengers (both marine and terrestrial) can create wounds that might appear to the layperson as a bullet wound. Indeed, the biologists have to search quite extensively through blubber layers, muscle and tissue to find signs of bullet entry and hemmoraging in hopes of retrieving a bullet. Often, it can only be determined by radiography. So, if you find a dead seal or sea lion, please do not assume the animal has been shot. Report it immediately to NOAA’s hotline 1-800-853-1964 or in West Seattle, call Seal Sitters dispatch @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL).
Authorities from NOAA and WDFW would like to stress that it is extremely difficult to tell upon a visual examination if a marine mammal has been shot. A bullet entry wound is quite small and particularly difficult to see on a fur-covered animal, much less one that has been dead in the water or on shore for some time; fur tends to rub off in circular spots and scavengers (both marine and terrestrial) can create wounds that might appear to the layperson as a bullet wound. Indeed, the biologists have to search quite extensively through blubber layers, muscle and tissue to find signs of bullet entry and hemmoraging in hopes of retrieving a bullet. Often, it can only be determined by radiography. So, if you find a dead seal or sea lion, please do not assume the animal has been shot. Report it immediately to NOAA’s hotline 1-800-853-1964 or in West Seattle, call Seal Sitters dispatch @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL).
