Columbia River Sealions.....

Chuckpacific · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:03 pm Post subject: Columbia River Sealions.....

Saturday afternoon we were on the Columbia about 6 miles downstream from Kelly Point when we saw a sealion among about 15 gulls. He seemed to have one salmon (could have been more) in his jaws and was shaking it and flinging it 10-12 feet away then retrieving it and setting up to fling again. This behavior went on for 10 minutes and ended when he ate the salmon (we saw it go down). I asked fishermen I know about this and none could explain it nor had they ever seen it. Any ideas on the reasons for this behavior? We're starting to see the sealions on the river again which of course will end in late May when the springers stop running.

Helen O · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:07 pm Post subject:

Hi Chuck

I've seen seals do that a lot and always thought they were just playing with their food. Seems like my kids liked to do that also, when they were about 2 years old. Smile

KenMcC · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:03 am Post subject:

Pretty much a survival mechanism. Just as cat's play with their food.

If they are really hungry, and need the food right now, they'll just eat it.

If they are pretty well getting most of the food they need, then they'll "play with it", as cats do, to keep their skills sharpened, or to teach their young.

Nasty on the one hand, but neat on the other!

TyBoo · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:52 am Post subject:

When the salmon are thick in the lower Columbia, those dang sea lions have a feast. Generally they only eat the bellies of the salmon if there are plenty to catch. That's one reason they whip them around like that. They want what they consider to be the good stuff right now so they can grab another. We've seen many belly-ripped fish floating down the river. We've also seen many thrashin', thievin', muderin', belly-robbin', fat, ugly sea lions doin' their thing. It is not uncommon to lose a salmon belly right off your hook down here, though I have never seen it. We hate them slugs.

There was an article in the local paper a while back about a sea lion (one of many with branded numbers) up near Bonneville Dam that originated in southern California. I blame that one on SoCal Roger!