Posted on 03/01/2009 4:44:20 PM PST by llevrok
SEATTLE - The federal government has granted Washington, Oregon and Idaho permission to kill up to 85 of sea lions a year for five years, and for 2009, that window begins Monday.
Eighty sea lions have been put on a so-called "hit list" after being spotted and tagged while eating spring Chinook salmon.
Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has requested two animals, but the rest of the animals that are trapped will be shot or given lethal injections.
Animal activists continue to fight for the mammals, saying they're being unfairly scapegoated for depleting the salmon population.
“The real issue is over fishing, commercial fishing, the dams,” said Matt Rossell of In Defense of Animals.
It's estimated sea lions seat 4 percent of the salmon population around the Bonneville Dam.
Wildlife managers have tried traps, gates, even firecrackers to keep the sea lions away, but they still come back.
Commercial fishermen, who are allotted 13 percent of the salmon, are pleased to see some of their competition disappear in the coming days.
"They don't belong here, they're sea lions, they belong in the sea, that's the way I feel about it,” said Roy Alway.
The only sea lions that can be killed are the California sea lions. There are also Stellar sea lions near the dam, but they are considered endangered and cannot be harmed
(sigh) Non-Texans have no sense of humor.
I did not know there are Sea Lions in Idaho. That is a new one on me.
It seems like any idea the govt has is a BAD idea.
When you cannot make a coherent point (or do not have one to make), launch an ad hominem attack.
Nothing points out feeble logic like ad hominem attacks.
Like voluntariy wearing a Scarlet Letter.
Thank you.
Amen, bro.
Does Idaho have a lot of sea lions along its coastline?
“Game management doesn’t require that the animal be eaten”
Nobody has to tell me to eat what I kill.
That comes naturally. Yum!
;^)
The sea lions come up the Columbia 30 - 50 miles and essentially blockade/maul salmon migrating into the Snake River and other ID waters that flow into the Columbia.
Over population of Sea Lions due to interference of the over educated...
It just goes to show that Cheech and Chong were way ahead of their time.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-ndaXQeRPO0g/cheech_and_chong_save_the_whales/
yep let the seals eat up all the salmon
and the we can watch the dammed things starve to death
/s
Not only do they eat the he** out of salmon sea lions are mean. I have friends that live in Ft. Bragg CA and they are overrun with sea lions, they will attack people. There is a small restaurant near one of the piers and the sea lions lie out there and chase people away, if you try to stand your ground you will become sea lion meat! No kidding. The locals hate the damn things but it is their own fault since about 99 percent of the locals are staunch liberals.
And when you cannot find happiness, do not seek it by correcting others to try to make yourself feel better.
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