Sea-lions being shot in US

Two sea lions found shot in Oregon Portland - UPI   Two sea lions were found fatally shot in Oregon over two days, bringing the number of dead sea lions found in the state to 20 in just two months, officials say. Nearly all of the dead sea lions were shot to death, with the most recent attack happening Monday, The (Portland) Oregonian reported. The sea lions have been found near the mouth of the Columbia River and a few miles north and south. Dalin D'Alessandro, a Portland State University research assistant with the Northern Oregon-Southern Washington Marine Mammal Stranding Network, said the killings likely come at the hands of fishermen. There is typically a slight increase in the number of dead sea lions around the opening of salmon season, she said, but so far this year there have been about four times what is usually seen in the same time period. Jim Rice, Oregon Coast coordinator for the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, said he believes the numbers are the highest in recent memory.