Oregon Public Broadcasting

Federal officials say only one of the six sea lions illegally shot on the Columbia River over the weekend was on a “wanted” list.

Correspondent Tom Banse reports investigators have quickly come to the conclusion that the shooter must have had some insider knowledge.

Federal officials are calling it a “despicable act” by some unknown “renegade.”  NOAA Fisheries regional administrator Bob Lohn says the six sea lions were shot in floating cages used in a trapping and relocation effort.

Bob Lohn: “In order to undertake this, a person would have to be somewhat familiar with the trapping methods used there and the operation of the traps.”

The traps are moored in a closed security zone.

Of the six dead sea lions, Lohn says only one appears on a list of known troublemakers eligible for transfer to Sea World.

Among the others killed were a pup and two Steller sea lions.  Stellers are a threatened species.

Animal rights activists held an impromptu protest at Bonneville Dam.  They complain that the now suspended sea lion trapping program created an opening for the  “vigilante assassin.”