A 700-pound California sea lion was found dead near the mouth of the Duwamish River in West Seattle on September 18, after a kayaker spotted the carcass near Harbor Island and reported it to Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, according to MyNorthwest.
The animal, a roughly 7-foot adult male, hadn’t died of natural causes. X-rays taken the following day by SR3, a Des Moines-based marine wildlife hospital, showed the sea lion had been shot at least a dozen times, including several times in the head.
“The Most Amount Of Projectiles I Have Seen”
Casey McLean, SR3’s executive director and a veterinary nurse, said the number of gunshot wounds stood out even against a career spent responding to marine mammal strandings. “This was probably the most amount of projectiles I have seen on one body in my career,” she said. “It was a lot.”
Because of the animal’s size, responders couldn’t X-ray the entire body, meaning the true number of gunshot wounds may be higher than what was documented. A full necropsy wasn’t performed either, since moving and disposing of a carcass that large is difficult and expensive. Based on the animal’s condition, McLean said it appeared to have been healthy before it was shot, and likely died close to where it was found; the body showed little decomposition and had probably been dead only a few days.
A Recurring Pattern In Puget Sound
This wasn’t an isolated case. Sea lions and seals have periodically turned up shot in Puget Sound for years. In 2010, at least five sea lions, including an endangered Steller sea lion, were found shot to death near Seattle within weeks of each other, and investigators at the time counted 10 confirmed shootings across the region between January and February of that year alone.
More recent stretches have followed the same pattern: NOAA Fisheries has previously confirmed clusters of gunshot deaths among California sea lions in the region, and Seal Sitters has continued to respond to suspected shootings on West Seattle beaches in the years since.
Why Sea Lions Get Targeted
McLean said hostility toward sea lions is often tied to the belief that they’re responsible for declining salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest — a claim she pushed back on directly. “This is not going to recover salmon populations,” she told KIRO 7. “And this is not the answer.”
Salmon declines in the region are generally attributed by fisheries scientists to a mix of factors, including habitat loss, dam infrastructure, warming waters, and overfishing, rather than sea lion predation alone.
A Federal Crime With No Suspect Yet
California sea lions are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to kill, injure, or harass marine mammals in U.S. waters. NOAA says violations can carry civil penalties, criminal fines, up to a year in prison, and in some cases forfeiture of the boat used in the offense.
Who shot this particular sea lion, and why, remains unknown. Seal Sitters reported the case to NOAA and asked that anyone who witnesses gunfire over the water call 911 immediately, then follow up with local marine mammal responders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the sea lion found?
Near Harbor Island along the Duwamish River in West Seattle, spotted by a kayaker on September 18.
How many times was the sea lion shot?
At least a dozen times, including several shots to the head, according to X-rays taken by SR3. Because the full body couldn’t be X-rayed, the actual number may be higher.
Is it illegal to shoot sea lions?
Yes. California sea lions are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, and violations can bring civil penalties, criminal fines, up to a year in prison, and vessel forfeiture.
Why do people sometimes target sea lions?
Some conflict stems from the belief that sea lions are significantly harming salmon populations by preying on them — a claim marine biologists say oversimplifies a much more complex set of causes behind salmon decline.
Has this happened before in the Seattle area?
Yes. Sea lions have been found shot in Puget Sound periodically for years, including a cluster of confirmed shootings in the region in 2010.
What should someone do if they witness a sea lion or other marine mammal being shot?
Call 911 immediately, then report the sighting to a local marine mammal stranding network, such as Seal Sitters, so responders can investigate and document the incident.
Sources: MyNorthwest (“700-pound sea lion found dead in West Seattle, shot at least 12 times, SR3 says,” Sept. 23, 2026), KIRO Newsradio, KIRO 7, and Herald Net/AP reporting on prior Puget Sound sea lion shootings.
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