The Humane Society of the United States is now offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the shooter(s) of the six seals and sea lions found dead, three on Alki, one in Burien, one in Purdy, and one in Gig Harbor. The pinnipeds include one harbor seal, three or four California Sea Lions, (one was found with a flesh wound) and one Steller's Sea Lion, which can weigh over 1,500 pounds which can be times that of a harbor seal.

The local organization Seal Sitters reports that, of those shot, the Steller's Sea Lion and two California Sea Lions have been found dead on West Seattle beaches, but fear more may soon appear.

"We will be conducting investigation, including collect bullets," Brian Gorman told the West Seattle Herald this afternoon. He is with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services, NOAA. "The $2,500 award can be very helpful. "When we recover forensic evidence like bullets we still need a witness. It is a bit of a challenge to know when they were shot. But I believe it was in late January or early February when the shooting took place.

"I've been here 15 years and can't recall all three varieties of pinnipeds in the same episode," he added. This is also unusual as most commercial fishing and recreational boating activity doesn't take place until later in the year."

According to some observers there has been a tradition of animosity by some individual salmon fishermen who say they resent sea lions grabbing their caught salmon from their nets and depleting the salmon population. Experts point out that the salmon population is made more vulnerable by large fishing vessels that scoop enormous amounts of sea life out of the Sound compared to the sea lions' appetites. But again all involved suggest these could be random shootings and not related to fishing disputes.

Steller's are listed under endangered species act, and Gorman pointed out that some media has incorrectly reported that some tribes are granted permits to kill seals and sea lions but that no such permit exists.

"The only one circumstance (to kill a seal or sea lion) is that if it is threatening your life and safety," he said.

"West Seattle can be proud of the outrage we have expressed about the shootings," said Janette Wilson, program manager, Seal Sitters. While the Canadian government encourages seal slaughter we're evolving at a faster clip. It's our opportunity to put Canada's seal slaughter in the world's face. The good news is that the Seattle community cares that ours are being shot and we are not proactively killing them.

"To have five show up is alarming to us," she added. "It's real hurtful to us."

"There may be up to nine more dead sea lions the water, and not necessarily shot, but people may be siting the same sea lion over and over," said Robins Lindsey, Seal Sitter photographer and first responder.