Posted by SeaDuck79 at 5/8/08 12:16 p.m.

Well, it's nice to know that the bias of the enviros was exposed, assuming that they must have been killed by the violence of men before they actually examined the evidence to find...that there wasn't any. Good thing they hadn't arrested and executed anyone for this "crime".

Pity that seems to be the M.O. for most of their "science". Ready, Fire, Aim. That's what happens when emotion trumps reason.

Posted by Checkyourrealty at 5/8/08 12:18 p.m.

Robert McClure needs to find a new line of work, couldn't fit the killings to humans now try to make up that the nasty humans must have poisoned them. I know why don't we just wait till the entire investigation, to include tests are in. Then we'll know versus throwing out accusations, which you can never take back, and some people out there will stick with the poison storyline.

Posted by Concerned_Citizen at 5/8/08 1:08 p.m.

I'm sure it was Global Warming that killed the Sea Lions .... or possibly even the exhaust from a white, middle-class, suburbanite's SUV.

Posted by golf nut at 5/8/08 1:57 p.m.

"The sea lions possibly died from heat exhaustion"...in 59 degree weather???

Has the NFMS processed the crime scene as a possible mass suicide on the part of the seals?

Posted by barnettmf at 5/8/08 2:31 p.m.

I have heard of 3 sea lions UPSTREAM of Bonneville Dam at the entrance to the Little White River spring chinook hatchery. The Indians net near there and these lions will most likely foul their nets while chomping their fish. What are these Indians to do if they foul his nets and endanger his life? Call Robert McClure??

Posted by Green Party at 5/8/08 3:07 p.m.

Well, I think it's real nice that all you radical Rightists attack someone who is trying to improve our world.

Our world includes you too, simpletons.

If there is even suspicion that Man is contributing to Global Warming, you would think that you would at least approve of precautionary measures to prevent the destruction of the Earth for your children. But Nooo, what Big Oil instructs you to holler, and your foolish pride, are far more important to you.

So you vociferously insult and belittle others, acting against your own best interests!!

Posted by unregistered user at 5/8/08 3:12 p.m.

Would anybody really care if this was a crow found dead?? Sea lions are the crows of the sea. Wastes of skin, that ravage other fish populations....

Posted by Klinky at 5/8/08 3:24 p.m.

Wastes of skin? Seriously. Ravaging who's fish exactly? The fish that were impeded due to us blocking up the entire river? The fish that neared extinction due to our own greed and overzealous fishing. We have no one else to blame other than ourselves for the state of the salmon. However it's much easier to bury your head in the mud and blame the sea lions or blame environmentalist for making your life "difficult" with that "global warming" mumbo-jumbo.

The fact is six sea lions are dead when none should have been. If the traps are causing distress or killing sea lions inappropriately then the program is a failure and needs revision or needs to stop. If the fishermen/"sport" fishermen are really concerned they should take up arms against anything that threatens the fish, including the dam. Not just the sea lions, but it's much easier to ignore a giant wall of concrete blocking an entire river than to ignore some barking sea lions.

Posted by cliffordc05 at 5/8/08 4:12 p.m.

I believe that several of the Snake River dams should come down. I also believe that California Sea Lions are not indigenous to Puget Sound or the Columbia River. And they should be removed which in many cases means they should be killed. Misguided environmentalists talk about unintended consequences when addressing the dam issue but rarely mention unintended consequences when talking about the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The damn sea lions have no predators in this area and are more than a nuisance. Have you watched sea lions chomp on sturgeon in the Columbia and flip the fish around and play with it until it is dead. They do not kill only when they are hungry and they do not kill just for food. Quit whining about the poor sea lions. I have as much sympathy for them as I do for rats.

Posted by maggie2u at 5/8/08 5:26 p.m.

I'm all for removing dams on the Columbia, just as soon as Seattle removes the seawall that's holding back Puget Sound from flooding downtown.

Posted by cat lover at 5/8/08 5:37 p.m.

The range of the "California" sea lion is from southern Alaska all the way down to southern Mexico. It really should be referred to as the Pacific Coast sea lion.

cliffordc05, have you ever seen what orcas do to poor little harbor seals? Or what hawks do to poor little chickadees? I guess we should kill them too.

Posted by groovyjoker at 5/9/08 4:44 p.m.

Good point, cat lover. Also, remember that two stellar sea lions died, as well. Those are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Sea lions of all types are food for killer whales, sharks and other predators of the sea. In some areas of the world, seals are hunted for their meat and fur. They are not "waste" animals, or "crows" (although crows are probably just as or more intelligent).

Such anthropogenic comments posted here. Did anyone ever stop to ask if these animals would have died ANYWAY were it not BUT FOR the presence of the trap?

If the answer is "Yes" then most likely humans could have done very little to prevent this unfortunate circumstance.

If the answer is "No...." then maybe we better re-think what happens when you get a group of pi**ed off sea lions in a trap.

Posted by unregistered user at 5/10/08 9:36 a.m.

I live below the dam, and it's really freaking me out that there is an obvious cover up happening. Why wouldn't they release the footage from the security cameras? Why are they trying to tell us that the security cameras were, unbelievably, not pointed at the very most sensitive zone at the entire dam, when they are pointed everywhere else? Why would trained biologists tell us the animals were shot if they were not?

This is all very freaky. I'm not buying any of it. I think some armed criminal blatantly went right into the restricted zone and shot those sea lions. People are crazy. And I think it gives the lie to any assurances that Homeland Security is on the job. No, they're just watching protesters who demonstrate against Bush. They're not really protecting us. What if it had been a terrorist who broke in up there?

Now those bozos are trying to tell us that sea lions died as a result of "dehydration"??? After being hauled out for only a few hours of daylight? (The traps were empty at 7pm the night before, and they were found at 11:30 the next day. Sea lions routinely haul out and lay around for longer than that. Don't tell me ALL SIX would have mysteriously died under those circumstances. Please. Do they think we're all just stupid or something?

Posted by Green Party at 5/10/08 12:22 p.m.

#127318 Posted by unregistered user at 5/10/08 9:36 a.m.

Yep, +1.

Posted by Green Party at 5/11/08 2:29 p.m.

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