Columbia Sea Lion Trapping Resumes Next Week

The controversial program to trap, and perhaps kill, the salmon eating sea lions at Bonneville Dam resumes next week.

Rick Hargrave with Oregon Fish and Wildlife says they are “geared up” to begin trapping March 1.

Hargrave expects little to happen during the first few weeks. He says it’s too early in the season to have a lot of sea lions at Bonneville. Plus, wildlife officials have targeted certain animals, and it’s too soon to know when those sea lions will show up.

Checking a trap in 2007. Courtesy ODFW.

Several changes are being made to avoid a repeat of last year’s accidental killing of six sea lions. (See our story: Who Killed The Sea Lions At Bonneville Dam?)

The sea lions died after the doors on the traps closed for unknown reasons, and without access to the river, they died from overheating.

Hargrave says the old rope and pulley method to control the doors has been replaced by an electromagnetic system. It’s designed to keep the doors open at all times. They can only be closed by a human punching in the right code into an electronic remote control.

Wildlife officials also plan to keep 24/7 surveillance on the traps. Last year’s deaths happened when no one was present.

Meawnhile, the Humane Society continues to fight the program in federal court. Hargrave says the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals could stop the program, or put it on hold, at any time.

Wildlife officials needed federal approval for the program. California Sea Lions are protected by federal law, but are not an endangered or threatened species. On the other hand, most west coast salmon are listed as endangered or threatened. It’s estimated that in 2007, the sea lions ate about 4% of the salmon trying to get around Bonneville Dam.

Local officials have permission to trap, and possibly kill, up to 80 sea lions a year. First they try to place them in zoos and aquariums. But Hargrave says these groups have shown little interest in adopting the animals.