Sea lion found shot on California beach dies. Feds offer $20,000 reward for culprit

A sea lion found shot on a Southern California beach in August died a day later, sparking a search for the person responsible, federal officials reported.

The sea lion, estimated to be about 2 years old, was found with a gunshot wound to its back on Bolsa Chica State Beach in Orange County on Aug. 7, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a Wednesday, Oct. 9, news release.

Despite life-saving efforts of Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescuers, the male sea lion died the next day, officials said.

Now the NOAA is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to a civil penalty or criminal conviction, the agency said.

Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits harassing, hunting, capturing or killing the creatures, officials said.

The NOAA asks that anyone with information about the sea lion’s death call 800-853-1964. Dead, injured or stranded sea lions should be reported to 866-767-6114.

Bolsa Chica State Beach is about a 35-mile drive south from downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Sea lion found shot on California beach dies. Feds offer $20,000 reward for culprit."