Sorry local fisherman. After the NOAA ruled out shooting as a cause of death, we know we passed the blame to your understandable anger at the gluttonous sea oafs. But the latest theory on just how six local sea lions died places the blame squarely on mother nature's shoulders. Now, according to investigators, the sea lions do not appear to have died of gunshot wounds, puncture wounds, or murderous fisher-folk, but rather heat exhaustion. The NOAA, who's obviously been wrong before about the cause of death, hopes that studying samples of the sea lions tissue will settle the mystery once and for all. more ›

Remember how we wrote yesterday that six sea lions were found shot in traps in the Columbia River? Turns out they weren't shot. According to a NOAA press conference held this morning regarding the sea lion deaths, necropsies of the animals showed no evidence of recent gunshot wounds. X-rays did show metal fragments in the soft tissue of two of the sea lions, and another had a metal slug in its blubber. Another one of the sea lion victims had several shallow puncture wounds, consistent with a sea lion bite. Now that shooting as a cause of death has been ruled out, investigators say the possibilities are wide open. more ›

This weekend, the carcasses of six sea lions were found shot to death in traps on the Columbia River. Now investigators from local law enforcement and Oregon and Washington's Departments of Fisheries are looking for the sea lions' executioner. more ›