FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Visitors to Saltwater State Park in Federal Way have seen the bodies of at least three sea lions over the last several weeks. Parks officials say high tides pushed the carcasses up high on the beach and left them there for weeks. That prompted a rash of calls to wildlife agencies, but on Wednesday, a spokesman for The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said these are all cases that happened weeks ago and are already being investigated.
Federal agents say it appears all the animals were shot. Bullets were recovered from 10 of the animals and the 11th is believed to have also been shot, but they add they do not know yet if the bullet wounds killed the sea lions. They explained some of the animals may have survived shootings years ago and died of something else.
Two of the sea lions have been identified as Steller Sea lions, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Killing them would carry serious penalties and fines, but all sea lions are under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and killing them is illegal.
Investigators say the dead animals washed up on several Washington State beaches but they don't know yet where they came from. They're hoping the lab tests and the public help provide information to track down suspects.
The Humane Society is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of people who shoot Puget Sound seals and sea lions.
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