Four sea lions, one seal shot dead

SEATTLE (AP) - A harbor seal and at least four sea lions, including one listed as endangered, were shot to death near Seattle, authorities said Friday.

One was a Steller sea lion protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. The others were smaller, more common California sea lions listed under the Marine Mammals Protection Act.

National Marine Fisheries Service spokesman Brian Gorman said an investigation was under way because it's illegal in most cases to shoot any kind of sea lion or seal. Shooting these mammals can result in fines of up to $50,000, he said.

Wildlife photographer Robin Lindsey said she was shocked at the sight of the dead male Steller sea lion that appeared to be 8 to 10 years old and weigh about 1,200 pounds.

"It's really heartbreaking to think anybody would shoot a creature because they're out there trying to survive," said Lindsey, who also volunteers with a group called Seal Sitters. "I hope to God it's not a trend."

Seal Sitters gets calls from federal officials when a seal or sea lion death is reported.

West Seattle residents have reported at least one other sea lion carcass was floating in Puget Sound, Gorman said.

At least one sea lion is found dead near Seattle each year, but five was an unusually large number, Gorman said.

"It's impossible for us to say right now where these animals were shot," he said. "Or even if it was one shooter."

Wildlife biologists believe the animals were dead for a week or two before their carcasses came to shore in several places.

Seattle has a love-hate relationship with California sea lions, which are accused each year of eating too many threatened spring Chinook salmon.

"Some people don't like them," Gorman said of the seals, pointing out the irony that sport fishermen want to do exactly what the sea lions do: eat salmon.

West Seattle is on the Peninsula across Elliott Bay from downtown Seattle.