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At least 13 sea lions found dead from gunshot wounds in California, Washington

Twelve sea lions have been found dead in Puget Sound since September, and one was recently found dead from gunshot wounds in Point Reyes, Calif.
A sea lion was found shot to death in November 2018 in Point Reyes, Calif. Photo: National Park Service/Point Reyes National Seashore via Twitter.

POINT REYES, Calif. -- Since September, more than a dozen sea lions have been found dead from gunshot wounds in Washington and California.

CBS affiliate KIRO 7 reported Saturday that two more sea lions had been found shot in the head, bringing the total found shot to death in Puget Sound near Seattle up to 12. Then on Sunday, KPIX 5 reported a sea lion had been found dead from gunshot wounds at Point Reyes in Western California.

The National Park Service at Point Reyes said a visitor found the male sea lion about a week ago. Wildlife officials said it was a known sea lion that was 7 years old and was born on San Miguel Island. KPIX reported that no one knows for certain who shot the sea lion, but officials often suspect fisherman, who find the creatures to be nuisances that compete for fish.

National Geographic reported up to 700 California sea lions were found dead from gunshots and stab wounds between 1998 and 2017. The magazine spoke to some fisherman who admitted anonymously that they use "shotguns" to keep sea lions away from their fish. One fisherman told National Geographic in August 2018 that sea lions who steal fish can threaten his livelihood.

KPIX said NOAA Fisheries is investigating these sea lion shootings. Killing sea lions is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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