Sneaky Sea Lions Feast On Fish At Dam's Fish Ladders

KOIN.com ^

[crazyhorse691]

BONNEVILLE DAM, Ore. -- Sea lions are feasting on fish at the Bonneville Dam, and engineers are looking for ways to drive away the protected animals.

About 30 sea lions surround the dam's spillways, gorging on any fish that come by. But that reportedly has minor impact on the fish runs.

The problem is that at least two have figured out how to enter the fish ladders.

"It's pretty amazing that they've managed to get all the way into the locks," fisherman Tom Wood told KOIN News 6.

"They can take out some research equipment that they have in there. They could get stuck. They could cause all kinds of problems. It's just not designed for 400- to 600-pound animals," Robert Stansell of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. "It's just not a good idea to have a sea lion in the fishway."

Sea lions are federally protected from harm. So the Army Corps of Engineers will try scare tactics, including guns that shoot fireworks. The efforts start this week.

[crazyhorse691]

30 years ago you could see maybe 2 or three sea lions at Yaquina Bay, 120 miles south of the Columbia River. Now, they are about 115 miles upstream. Since they are federally protected, none are ever shot...in port or with witnesses around. The environmental whackos are still trying to have the very same runs of salmon that the sea lions are eating added to the protected list because of low returns. I am all for controlled harvests to thin their population before they do "seriously" impact fish runs.

[Not A Snowbird]

We had sea lions hanging around the Ballard Locks. Word is they were relocated to Florida, or some such place.

Our local radio guys did a parody of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and called it "Sea Lion Eats Tonight". Very funny song.

[dfwgator]

When animals stop eating each other, then we can talk about humans stopping eating animals.

[GladesGuru]

Solutions for several problems have presented themselves. Lighting is a problem due to enviro-mental freaks having dams removed, so shoot seals and use the fat for light. It works for the Inuit.

Eat the seals. Again, it works for the Inuit.

And seals do make warm coats. Once again, works for Inuit nad trophy wives.

All the above won't work for PETAPersons. All the more reason to do it.

[No Longer Free State]

Aaaah, the law of unintended consequences!! Ain't it Grand?

"If you build it, they will come."

[xcamel]

"...History show again and again how nature points up the folly of men . . .FishZilla!"

Blue Oyster Cult Parody...

[crazyhorse691]

We had sea lions hanging around the Ballard Locks.

---

Thankyou for mentioning the Ballard Locks. I could remember things about that battle except the name of the location.
What makes this case all the more disturbing is that it is so far inland in fresh water and the numbers of sea lions involved.

[hoagy62]

Looks like the descendants of "Herschel" are at it again!

"Herschel was the "main" sea lion back when the Ballard Locks were being ravaged.

[sam_paine]

Thank YOU for mentioning BOC, you can be whatever you wanna be.

[SF Republican]

One of the more enjoyable sights near my folks place in Colorado is a fish hatchery for the trout on the Gunnison River. The Eagles think its a buffet.

[StormEye]

They're Sea Lions. Capture them and haul them
back to the ocean -- way out into the ocean.

[xcamel]

Then came the last days of may, the sun was kinda hot, and I hadn't seen a minuteman all day, what luck...

Rare BOC parody cut.

[xcamel]

Or dump them all off in King county as new democrat voters....

[crazyhorse691]

Kingfishers were the biggest eater at the hatchery where I worked....until we cut down all the trees within 200 feet of the ponds. Deforest the gorge to protect the fish you are raising to replace the ones the dam eliminated.

[LasVegasMac]

Lighting is a problem due to enviro-mental freaks having dams removed

Are you series? Where?

Maybe you should just light up a couple enviro-nazi's the next time it gets dark.

Just kidding, of course.

Everyone knows that hot air is not much for fuel.

LVM

[7MMmag]

They're Sea Lions. Capture them and haul them back to the ocean -- way out into the ocean. That was done, the attempt failed.
Herchel was transported MORE than a thousand miles away, South, to the Channel Islands, which are off the mainland near Santa Barbara-L.A. area.

Herchel was BACK within two months! The very same sea lion.

I hate to say it, but shooting them may be the only way, unless the are shipped to Florida?

That was (from another post here) the first time I'd heard that one.

[7MMmag]

They're Sea Lions. Capture them and haul them back to the ocean -- way out into the ocean. That was done, the attempt failed.
Herchel was transported MORE than a thousand miles away, South, to the Channel Islands, which are off the mainland near Santa Barbara-L.A. area.

Herchel was BACK within two months! The very same sea lion.

I hate to say it, but shooting them may be the only way, unless the are shipped to Florida?

That was (from another post here) the first time I'd heard that one.

[7MMmag]

double drat! Ah, well.

Shoot 'em twice???

[rdb3]

One of the more enjoyable sights near my folks place in Colorado is a fish hatchery for the trout on the Gunnison River. The Eagles think its a buffet.

That sounds wonderful. Are any of these bald eagles? Shame to say, but, I've never seen one that didn't see the taxidermy man first.

[MD_Willington_1976]

They (Sea lions, seals) wash up ever so often where I'm from with a 30 cal hole in the head...