A sea lion discovered dead in West Seattle was found to have been shot at least a dozen times, according to the executive director of a local marine wildlife hospital. The carcass will remain at the mouth of the Duwamish River, where it is expected to decompose naturally.
The animal was located at the river’s mouth in West Seattle on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at approximately 3:04 p.m. local time. Initial observations indicated multiple gunshot wounds, with the count of distinct entry points reaching twelve. No other injuries or causes of death were reported beyond the ballistic trauma.
The executive director of the marine wildlife hospital, who declined to provide a name, confirmed that the hospital will not remove the remains. Instead, the facility plans to allow the sea lion’s body to break down in situ, following standard protocol for wildlife carcasses that cannot be safely transported or displayed. The decision aligns with the hospital’s established practice of returning deceased marine mammals to natural environments for decomposition when feasible.
The Duwamish River mouth, a tidal area that empties into Elliott Bay, is a common gathering point for marine wildlife and a location where natural processes can act on organic material. By leaving the sea lion at this site, officials anticipate that the carcass will be consumed by scavengers and broken down by environmental factors over time.
Authorities have not released further details regarding the circumstances that led to the shooting. The marine wildlife hospital’s response focuses solely on the handling of the remains, emphasizing that the body will be left to decompose without intervention.
The incident underscores the presence of illegal shooting activity in the region, as evidenced by the twelve bullet wounds recorded on the sea lion. The hospital’s approach reflects a commitment to managing wildlife mortality in a manner consistent with ecological processes, without additional human interference.