Sea Lion Shot By Pellet Rifle Euthanized

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A sea lion yearling was not strong enough to overcome infection after being shot by a pellet gun and had to be euthanized, authorities say.

In mid-December, volunteers from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center responded to calls of a California sea lion in distress in the famed Newport Beach surf spot, the Wedge. Vets discovered that she had two wounds causing her pain and discomfort and limiting normal movement.

"While conducting radiographs to obtain further information on the extent of her injuries, her chest indicated two gunshots, most likely from a pellet rifle," marine center CEO Peter Chang said in a recent release.

As with most of the mammals in their care, the volunteers at the marine center gave her a currently trendy name. "Mandalorian" — after the movie gunfighter — suited her due to her battle scars. Unlike her gritty Disney+ character namesake, however, her health continued to decline. Rescuers monitored her for about a week and attempted to help her heal from the injuries.

"A difficult decision was made, and the animal was humanely euthanized on Dec. 22, 2019," Chang said. A necropsy, conducted to further identify cause of her death, showed that one of the pellets "impacted between the rib and adjacent vertebrae," Chang said. The wounds resulted in infection and fluid buildup in the chest cavity.

A second pellet was lodged in the musculature between the ribs. Another lodged in her flipper.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement will examine the pellets and attempt to find the culprits. But Justine Viezbicke, the Marine Mammal Stranding coordinator for NOAA, told the OC Register that there isn't much law enforcement can do.

"We do document and keep track to watch for patterns," Viezbicke said.

This sort of shooting was not rare.

Shooting sea lions with any type of weapon is a federal crime, though pellet shootings are nearly impossible to prosecute, according to the Marine Mammal Center of Los Angeles. In 2019, that rescue center took in two other sea lions, both shot with bullets and pellets.

SeaWorld San Diego has also rendered aid to animals suffering pellet wounds.

"These are disgusting and intentional acts, many of which are premeditated," Chang said. "We know there are many out there that feel like they are competing with the sea lions for the same resources. We must learn to cohabitate with these precious marine mammals. Shooting them is not the way."