County says it sent letters supporting review of sea lion management; resident urges more aggressive removal

At Tuesday’s Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners meeting, staff said the board sent letters supporting a review of federal sea lion-management policy referenced in the meeting as “1 20 f” and letters to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Rep. Tom Cole and Rep. Rosa DeLauro backing changes to how growing sea lion populations are managed at hydroelectric sites on the Columbia River. A speaker identified as Flo spoke during the public portion of the consent-item discussion and urged more aggressive removal methods, saying, “Why don't they just shoot them? Their meat can go to many of the wild animal refuges,” and suggested hunters be permitted to harvest animals rather than the current practice described in the meeting of trapping and transporting animals for euthanasia in California. County staff earlier presented background from a 2018 study cited in the meeting and said California sea lion counts in the Columbia Basin had grown from fewer than 500 animals to about 4,000 in the last decade, and that eastern Steller sea lions are present near Bonneville Dam for most of the year. Staff said the letters request review of the policy to evaluate more humane, efficient removal options and potentially permit harvests. Commissioners did not take further action on the matter during the meeting; the entries were presented as part of the consent agenda and the consent agenda passed. The transcript does not record any formal changes to county policy beyond sending the support letters.