"California sea lions are a conservation success because the population has rebounded from the days when they were shot for bounties.”
Now Orange County, California is known for many things including, but not limited to, burritos, freeways, open air malls though not generally intuitive thinking. All that is set to change, though, with the arrival of a fatally shot sea lion. The two-year-old li’l buddy washed up at Bolsa Chica, just north of Huntington with a bullet lodged in its back. It was rushed to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna but died there from its injuries.
While sea lions are everywhere, they are still protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act making it illegal to harass or kill them. Fines can soar to over $30,000 plus a year in jail.
Harsh.
Federal officials want to know, anyhow, who pulled the trigger in the above case and are offering a $20,000 reward for information.
Surfers, thus, swapping out foam baseball caps for detective-esque fedoras.
$20,000 can buy many things in Orange County including, but not limited to, burritos.
More as the story develops.