Sea lions to be killed in Oregon

A federal agency has authorized the killing of some California sea lions that prey on migrating salmon and steelhead at the base of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River in Oregon, the Associated Press reports.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman denied a request Wednesday by the Humane Society of the United States to block the government from killing protected sea lions at the dam. Sea lions are protected under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act; the kill would be limited to about 85 animals.

The killing, authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service, could start by the end of this week.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta

Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP