California Sealion

Zalophus californianus

All photos with blue borders expand if clicked

Oregon Fish & Wildlife tagged animal

Beginning in 2002, California Sea Lions have appeared in the spring in the Columbia River below Bonneville dam. The result has been great controversy, both legal and otherwise, as their favorite food, salmon, as well as the California Sealion are protected species under federal law. The federal protection laws speak of protecting the endangered species, but doesn't provide a lot of guidance as to what to do when one protected species threatens to annilate another protected species.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife department is charged with managing the issue and their perspective is found on his website: Oregon Fish and wildlife website on sealion

Additional information: see Wikpedia - California_sea_lion