Hungry Sea Lions in Pacific Northwest Killed for Overeating Salmon

Sea lions in the Pacific Northwest that are eating too much salmon are being put to death by wildlife officials.
Hungry Sea Lions in Pacific Northwest Killed for Overeating Salmon
Sea Lions sunbathe on a dock at Pier 39 February 25, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
3/10/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/slionz97054323.jpg" alt="Sea Lions sunbathe on a dock at Pier 39 February 25, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" title="Sea Lions sunbathe on a dock at Pier 39 February 25, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1822236"/></a>
Sea Lions sunbathe on a dock at Pier 39 February 25, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sea lions in the Pacific Northwest that are eating copious amounts of salmon are being put to death by wildlife officials. In order to protect the endangered salmon that the sea lions are feasting on, local media report that a variety of methods have been employed.

According to the Seattle Times, tactics have included dropping bombs in the water to scare the sea lions off, and firing rubber bullets and beanbags at the animals. The latest tactic is catching and killing “offending” sea lions.

The Seattle Times reports that last week, a California sea lion was the first victim of the “euthanizing” program after eating what was deemed more than his share of salmon. The program has been in effect for two years.

The sea lions are eating chinook salmon that are coming through the Bonneville Dam just east of Portland, Oregon. The sea lions pick the fish off easily as they migrate back from the ocean up the dam ladders.