ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Federal wildlife officials are investigating the deaths of five marine mammals found near Skagway, including one found with a bullet in its head.
Since January biologists have recovered the carcasses of two Steller sea lions and three harbor seals.
One sea lion appeared to have died from illness but the four other animals showed signs of head trauma. The bullet was recovered from a harbor seal.
Ron Antaya of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement says his agency is seeking information the public can offer on the deaths.
He says it’s possible that subsistence hunters killed the animals legally but lost them before they could be recovered. He says the deaths also could have been from reckless, illegal activity.
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