In case you see it too: That’s a dead sea lion. (Update: And a live one too)

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

12:12 PM: We’re getting multiple reports today about this, so in case you see it too: What looks to some like a “dead baby orca” is actually a dead sea lion, likely the same one that’s been seen on and offshore for a few days now. Kersti Muul gave us first heads-up about it yesterday. The decomposed carcass appears to have a light patch, so that’s why some have mistaken it for an orca. If it washes onshore again, it can be marked with paint, and “hopefully scanned,” Kersti says. If it washes ashore in West Seattle, the Marine Mammal Stranding Network here is Seal Sitters, 206-905-SEAL; in other areas, the regional hotline is 866-767-6114.

4:28 PM: As Kersti noted in comments below, there’s a live sea lion on the Harbor Avenue shore, too – a Steller sea lion, not as common in our area. Stewart L. sent this photo while it was back out in the water:

Kersti Muul December 8, 2021 (1:06 pm)

There is an unwell sea lion along Harbor Avenue that is agitated please give it a wide berth.

wssz December 8, 2021 (7:49 pm)

Do you think the stellar sea lion is healthy?
- Kersti Muul December 8, 2021 (10:45 pm)
  
  It seems old. Is underweight some with lots of old scars and some fresh wounds. Right eye has an issue as well.He really needs some space to rest.

Kersti Muul December 8, 2021 (1:29 pm)

It’s actually a stellar!Rower just flushed it

Jay December 8, 2021 (1:40 pm)

The reason they scan the carcass is to look for bullets. Fishermen shoot sea lions to stop them eating fish they’re trying to catch. They are also known to drop bombs in the water. X-rays show that a lot of the sea lions that die locally were shot.

Kersti Muul December 8, 2021 (2:08 pm)

Kersti Muul December 8, 2021 (10:44 pm)

heart opener December 9, 2021 (7:00 am)

He is beautiful, thanks for sharing Kersti, hope he will be okay. Wondering if he could be grieving for the other sea lion who died?

Kersti Muul December 9, 2021 (9:09 am)

Well unfortunately if that were the case he would be doing a lot of grieving as there Have been about a dozen this season already. Hoping he gets some space and stays out of the perpetrators’ sights. He was able to go on his way whatever way that is…

JENNIFER ROBERTSON December 9, 2021 (11:16 am)

Regarding the deceased sea lion in the water at Lincoln Park: Seal Sitters cannot remove deceased animals from the water, nor can Parks and Recreation rangers/personnel. After much calling around yesterday afternoon, I learned that the correct number to call is Seattle Animal Control (connected to Seattle Animal Shelter): FYI 206-386-7387. Hopefully, they were able to go there last night and retrieve the body. It was a sad sight to see.

Kersti Muul December 9, 2021 (1:22 pm)

This isn’t the way it always works. There are times when CSL have been towed in for necropsy. It depends where it washes up and what the body condition is. If it’s on land certainly needs to be looked at and head scanned and body painted so not recounted. Seal sitters per se will not retrieve it but they definitely want to be notified.There is also a body count to consider and to see if each one reported has been shot. Parks does disposal sometimes, it all depends on what happens.
Lynn Shimamoto December 10, 2021 (8:32 am)

Seal Sitters is authorized by NOAA to remove dead marine mammals from the water in order to examine them and submit the findings to the NOAA national database. We coordinate with property owners to investigate deaths; we always make sure the property owners are aware that they are responsible for disposal. Seattle Parks has been informed of the dead California sea lion currently at Lincoln Park. The carcass is 8 feet long and 800 pounds, and it will require heavy equipment to remove it.

anonyme December 12, 2021 (11:38 am)

These murderers can’t be that hard to catch. They need to be hunted down. I also don’t understand why a property owner would be responsible for removal of an 800-lb. dead body that was killed by someone else…?

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