Sea lions shot dead on Columbia River as salmon battle rages

May 5th, 2008 in Biology /
Sea lions shot dead on Columbia River as salmon battle rages (AP)

A sea lion swims along the Columbia River, past Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife investigators on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at Bonneville Dam, just east of Portland, Ore. The deaths of six sea lions are under investigation after the bodies of the federally protected animals were found in open traps on the Columbia River and appeared to have been shot. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens_

(AP) -- Six federally protected sea lions were apparently shot to death on the Columbia River as they lay in open traps put out to ensnare the animals, which eat endangered salmon. State and federal authorities are investigating.

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