Reports had initially said that six sea lions in the Columbia River had been gunned down. It's now believed, however, that their deaths were not a result of gunshots after all.
Recent bans on salmon fishing on the Weast Coast may have inspired fisherman who depend on the salmon for their livelihoods to corner the market, so to speak, by eliminating their fiercest competitor - the sea lion.
Six sea lions were found dead in traps at the base of Bonneville Dam on Sunday. While there was suggestions of possible gunshot wounds in several of them, the wounds were established to have been old, happening well after their deaths in the traps.
The cause of death at this point is still unknown. There were several bite marks, in addition to the older gunshot wounds, but they were not believed to have been life-threatening.
The Associated Press received a report from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service stated: "We received the heads. We examined them as best we could and reported the results back to the agents. We are done with them," lab director Ken Goddard said Thursday. "I think we've answered all their questions."
Poisoning was suggested, but Spokesman Mark Oswell of NOAA Fisheries debunked the rumor on Thursday, telling the AP: "there is nothing to indicate a need to do toxicology tests."
The biggest mystery that remains is why the traps were closed. Both traps operated on their own mechanisms, and would have required deliberate action to close them. Authorities are still investigating and continued to suspect fowl play. .
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