Posts Tagged ‘ bonneville dam ’

Court Stops Killing of Sea Lions At Bonneville Dam

November 23, 2010
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Courtesy ODFW

Pull out the traps – a federal appeals court says there won’t be any more killing of sea lions at Bonneville Dam.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a stop to the killing saying that wildlife officials didn’t really explain how killing sea lions is supposed to help salmon and steelhead.

At first look, the answer to that question seems obvious. Bonneville Dam is a big bottleneck for salmon working their way upstream to spawn. It forces them into a small area and makes them easy pickings for California and Steller sea lions.

But the legal standard appears to require a “significant negative impact” and the court says federal and state wildlife officials didn’t prove that’s what was happening.

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Back At Bonneville and Hungrier Than Ever

February 24, 2010
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A Steller Sea Lion. Photo from NOAA

The all you can eat seafood buffet at Bonneville Dam is open for business.

Early season numbers from Oregon Fish and Wildlife tell us that anywhere from a dozen to two dozen sea lions are hanging out at the dam, enjoying the easy pickings of salmon and sturgeon. Most of are Steller sea lions, only a few of them are of the California variety.

Those numbers are typical for late February, according Rick Hargrave of ODFW. Steller sea lions arrive first. The number of California sea lions will pick up starting in March.

What is unusual – is how much fish they’re eating.

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Bonneville Sea Lions Outsmarting Wildlife Officials

May 8, 2009
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Two months into the sea lion trapping program at Bonneville Dam and guess what? The sea lions have figured out the game.

As the Columbian notes this morning, three weeks have gone by without any sea lions being captured. Brian Gorman with NOAA Fisheries tells the paper officials aren’t sure if the animals have become trap shy. But the latest report on the Army Corps of Engineers website says the sea lions have started using a concrete pad to haul out instead of using the traps.

Courtesy Oregon Fish And Wildlife

Courtesy Oregon Fish And Wildlife

The Columbian also reports that Oregon Fish and Wildlife has ruled out shooting the sea lions, at least for this year.

Since the trapping program began March 11, 15 sea lions have been captured. Four were released, four were relocated to an aquarium and a zoo, and the remaining seven were put down.

Officials say the numbers of California sea lions hanging out at Bonneville Dam are down from previous years, probably because the most troublesome predators have been removed. The numbers of Steller sea lions are up.

State and federal officials received permission to trap and possibly kill the sea lions because they’re eating large numbers of salmon trying to get over the Bonneville Dam. The Columbian says they got nearly 3% of the salmon at the dam last year.

And if you have any doubts about how smart these guys are, a few years ago one of the sea lions figured out how to get past the dam by hitching a ride on barges going through the locks.

Bonneville Sea Lion Totals: 15 Caught, 7 Euthanized

April 24, 2009
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With about a month left in the sea lion trapping program at Bonneville Dam, here’s where things stand.

  • 15 sea lions captured
  • 7 euthanized
  • 4 relocated to a zoo or aquarium
  • 4 released

The 11 that were killed or released were on a special watch list of sea lions that are especially heavy predators of salmon at the dam. The seven sea lions that were put down had viral infections making them unsuitable for zoos or aquariums. Although it’s unlikely wildlife officials would have found homes for all of them, even if they were healthy.

One sea lion, numbered C287, has been especially lucky at the dam, taking about 100 fish so far this spring. He remains at large.

Fourth Bonneville Sea Lion Killed, Five Captured

April 3, 2009
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One of the eight sea lions trapped at the Bonneville Dam this week has been euthanized. That brings the total number of sea lions killed this year by wildlife officials, to four.

Courtesy ODFW

Courtesy ODFW

Oregon Fish and Wildlife says the sea lion couldn’t be placed in a zoo or aquarium because it has contagious viral lesions, which is the same reason it says put down the three other sea lions.

Meanwhile, two of the remaining six sea lions were branded and released. One has passed a health exam and the remaining four are being examined today.

Wildlife officials have federal permission to trap and kill up to 80 sea lions that heavy predators of salmon at Bonneville Dam.