2020 has been a tough one on so many levels for Puget Sound’s marine mammal stranding networks.

The unlawful and rampant shootings of sea lions has ended the year on a frustrating, infuriating and tragic note. At last count, out of 23+ sea lion carcasses since Fall, there have been 14 confirmed shot dead. Three additional carcasses are pending radiographs, along with another 2 highly suspect deaths. Others were unable to be examined due to location. Several additional sea lion carcasses have been sighted floating in Elliott Bay, but disappeared before the networks were notified and able to respond.

Sea lions and seals are unwitting and unjustified scapegoats for dwindling fish stocks; the annual rash of shootings typically corresponds with fish runs and fishing seasons.

Tags: shot sea lion, sea lion shootings

Necropsies performed on two dead California sea lions in West Seattle this week confirmed suspicions that both animals had been shot to death. There have been multiple reports of gunfire this past week in the Duwamish River where fishing boats and nets have been present.

On Saturday (10/3) Seal Sitters MMSN facilitated the necropsy of a dead, robust California sea lion found two days earlier, mysteriously tied to a pier in the East Waterway of the Duwamish. The animal was towed ashore to Don Armeni boat launch where an examination was done by SR3 with assistance from Seal Sitters and Sno-King Marine Mammal Response. Numerous pellets were found in his flipper, chest and head, along with massive internal hemorrhaging. The head was taken for radiographs which revealed additional projectiles in the skull.

Earlier in the week, Seal Sitters and SR3 conducted a necropsy on a sea lion that had been found floating offshore. That animal suffered a shattered vertebrae, broken rib and internal organ damage. X-rays showed projectiles in the skull.

Evidence from both examinations will be turned over to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for investigation.

As always, Seal Sitters is extremely concerned about this annual shooting of pinnipeds during fishing seasons. Concurrent with Fall and Winter fish runs, numerous sea lions and seals pay a deadly price. As in past years, guns are being fired over open water in a busy recreational, commercial and industrial area of the City of Seattle. This latest shooting happened directly across from fuel barges and fuel storage tanks, near docks active with workers. Last year, shootings were witnessed in Elliott Bay in ferry and water taxi lanes.

If you hear active gunfire over the water, please call 911. If the gunfire is in Elliott Bay, after calling 911, notify Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325). To find out the stranding network for your area of Puget Sound, click HERE.

If you see a stranded marine mammal, dead or alive, in West Seattle, please call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325).

Tags: shot sea lion, sea lion shootings, shot sea lions 2018

CALIFORNIA SEA LION FOUND DEAD ON BEACH
“Not another one!” was the reaction of Seal Sitters first responders on hearing of a dead sea lion washing ashore on a private beach in West Seattle on Monday (11/25).

Two badly decomposed sea lions had stranded a month earlier (10/12); projectiles were found in the skull of one. The other was also suspected shot, although it couldn’t be accessed for an examination.

Hotline operator Amanda relayed the call about the latest sea lion to First Responder Victoria. She and volunteer John located a fresh-dead, perfectly intact California sea lion carcass at Lowman Beach and noted a finger-sized hole in the animal’s back. SMMSN Co-investigator Lynn immediately called WDFW-MMI and SR3 to coordinate a necropsy and with NOAA’s help, applied for an emergency permit from the EPA to tow and sink the carcass.The permit was granted swiftly, since on-site burial or heavy-equipment removal was deemed impossible.

With the permission from the homeowner, SR3 Director (and SS volunteer) Casey Mclean arrived to secure the sea lion to a tree stump on the beach (photo above). For two nights, neighbors kept an eye on the sea lion, tightening the line to make sure the carcass was not swept away at high tide.

NECROPSY CONFIRMS SEA LION SHOT TO DEATH
On Wednesday morning, examiners arrived at the beach. Lead examiner Dyanna Lambourn of WDFW-MMI assisted by Casey and visiting veterinarian Greg Frankfurter, performed the necropsy, along with some help from Devon and Caldwell. Several Seal Sitters volunteers took photographs and notes and explained circumstances to onlookers during the exam.

A large slug was found lodged in the animal’s ribcage, having torn through the spine and internal organs. This case and all evidence will be turned over to NOAA Office of Law Enforcement for investigation.

THE CHALLENGE OF DISPOSAL AFTER NECROPSY
Despite strong currents and brisk winds, Caldwell used an oared skiff to haul the carcass off the beach and out to a larger boat. There, Casey attached burlap sandbags to a jute rope and sank the carcass according to EPA requirements. Many thanks to the anonymous boat owner who offered his services and neighbors who were so helpful in making sure we could examine the sea lion.

Tags: shot sea lion

On Christmas Day, a partially decomposed California sea lion washed ashore on a private West Seattle beach. Before a necropsy could be arranged, the animal was swept back into Puget Sound. It drifted along the shoreline for days until it finally landed 2 miles north at Constellation Park on New Year’s Eve.

Seal Sitters MMSN First Responder David Hutchinson coordinated with Seattle Parks who agreed to dispose of the carcass so that a limited necropsy could be done on the animal. Orca Researcher Mark Sears offered to tow the carcass to Don Armeni boat ramp since no disposal was possible on the public beach. Casey McLean of SR3 performed the necropsy today with the assistance of SS First Responder David Delgado, removing the head for radiographs to try to determine if the animal had been shot.

A second sea lion which stranded dead on November 25 had already been confirmed dead by gunshot. A large projectile was removed from the body, having done significant internal damage to organs and bone.

Results from today’s necropsy will be posted on this blog when the X-rays have been completed.

UPDATE 1/9/20
Radiographs have revealed projectiles in the head of the Christmas Day sea lion. Fragments from the skull will be turned over as evidence to NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.

Tags: shot sea lion, human interference

Once again, numbers of shot sea lions and seals have risen dramatically over the Fall and Winter months. WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations Unit confirmed today that a necropsy performed by Dyanna Lambourn and World Vet’s Dr. Cathy King on a decomposed California sea lion revealed the animal was shot. It is estimated the animal, found just north of Gig Harbor, was killed in early December. The bullet had tracked into the brain.

A fresh-dead Steller sea lion, weighing approximately 1600 lbs, was examined near the same location in Gig Harbor on December 5. The head, weighing almost 200 lbs, was removed by WA Department of Fish and Wildlife MMI and taken for radiographs. The massive sea lion had 14 projectiles in the head and neck, from at least 4 different types of weapons. Some were older wounds.

Additionally, Seal Sitters received word this afternoon that the dead California sea lion necropsied in West Seattle on January 3 died from gunshot. The animal washed ashore on Christmas Day. Radiographs revealed projectiles in the skull of the 600+ lb animal.

This was the second stranded pinniped in exactly a month in West Seattle. Pictured above, a fresh-dead California sea lion was found shot through the back on November 25. Below, is a photo of the large slug that caused tremendous internal damage, resulting in hours of suffering.

These are just a few disturbing cases among many.



THE CURRENT STATISTICS IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL PUGET SOUND
TIME PERIOD AUGUST 16, 2019 - JAN 9, 2020:

9 pinnipeds confirmed shot dead
       (7 California sea lions, 1 Steller sea lion and 1 harbor seal)
4 “suspicious” dead pinnipeds; cause of death undetermined

SEALS AND SEA LIONS ARE PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LAW
All marine mammals are protected from harm by Federal law, the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This past Fall, corresponding with fish runs, Seal Sitters hotline (206-905-7325) and first responders received numerous reports of shots fired out on the water, often at night.

NOAA urges the public to report any information or incidents they see or hear to NOAA Office of Law Enforcement: during regular business hours, call 206-526-6133, after hours 1-800-853-1964. A vigilant public - eyes and ears along the waterfront - is a valuable resource for enforcement and might help solve these potential crimes.

The Fall and Winter of 2018 was an especially deadly season for sea lions as well. Read more about last year’s disturbing incidents here.

Tags: shot sea lion