Osprey--Amen, Brother.

So now we're supposed to do without electricity and flood protection too, just so the sea lions can have free range. I don't think so. you guys are living in a differnt world that has a whole different notion of reality. Man is not at the bottom of the food chain, or any other chain and we've moved beyond strict nature a long time ago.

We are never going to agree on this subject, so there's no sense getting in a snit over it. I would still invite you to come on out to the Columbia and take a look and watch a group of sea lions ripping salmon to pieces for the sport of it. Watch what happens when a couple of bull sea lions park themselves at the mouth of one of our small spawning streams. You really need to see the predation for yourselves before you proclaim that these creatures have little affect on the salmon population.

I would also invite you to bring your kayaks and paddle amongst a pod of these monsters and see what a warm fuzzy feeling it gives you. I give these buggers a wide, wide berth whenever I see them, but sometimes you find yourself right in the middle of them and they have a way of letting you know that you aren't welcome.

Concerning the place of seals/sea lions on the Columbia, Lewis and Clark noted their presence as far upstream as Celilo Falls. Check out http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/sea_lions.html

I think I've been missunderstood. I do not advocate the removal of dams on the Columbia River. I am not sure if its even physically possible. What was done in the past is done and not easily undone.

I just point out that in building the dams we decided that electricity, flood control and irrigation were more important to us than salmon. I just thought it was a very strange about-face for society as a whole: we put mega tons of concrete in the path of salmon migration then act like we care so much about salmon that we want to shoot sea lions.

Hey! we didn't shoot the dam builders :-) (that's a joke!)

And if anyone checks out my earlier post they would know that I consider sea lions dangerous enough to keep my distance. That doesn't mean I have any contempt for sea lions, I appreciate them they same way I apppreciate all creatures, and most humans.

[quote=magooch]So now we're supposed to do without electricity and flood protection too,

I grew up on the west coast in northern California and southern Oregon working on family owned commercail fishing boats and have seen sea lions follow boats taking salmon off the lines only eating the mid section out of the fish and then getting another and doing the same, They are as wasteful as people. I have seen sea lions several miles up undamed rivers feeding on salmon. A person can just about walk across the backs of sealions on Klamath, Ell and mad rivers when the salmon are running. We never had any problem with sealions when we were fishing for bottom fish.

I have had sea lions (or seals I'm not actually sure how to tell from just the head poking up) come up near my boat and look curiously at me. I think they are just curious about what is this strange, noiseless thing going along... since most boaters are making a lot of noise with their engines.
I would certainly never intentionally approach them. Even an accidental bump could result in a very cold, wet spill.
Back when I lived in Northern California, I know it was necessary to stay clear of seals... the elephant seals only look clumsy on land. They can cover ground at a good clip, weigh a bunch and are territorial! I would expect sea lions to be the same.

tomsjeep,
This subject, as you might have seen, has been hashed about pretty well. My own experience is that seals and sea lions are usually harmless, but they spook the heck out of me. At various times they are thick in our rivers and it's common to have close encounters. My theory is that it would only take one time for one of the big bulls (up to 3000 lbs.) to totally ruin your day. They are wild animals and unpredictable. I don't even like the harbor seals, which have popped up right next to me and scared the crap out of me. I leave them alone and expect the same from them.

I see sea lions almost every time out. If you are in a kayak, they are not dangerous. However, they are territorial at times. When you approach their females and young, a male will usually let you know you should leave. It is impossible to not get the message, they know how to dissuade intruders. If you stop approaching, there is never any problem. If you ignore the warning or otherwise bug them, you are asking for a fight you will lose, and you are breaking federal law. Lots of people here in the NW want to kill sea lions, usually on account of the salmon they eat. I say they are entitled to their share of the salmon. We can live with them, they enrich our lives.

I'm not a fisherman, but I do like to eat salmon. I haven't met one fisherman who felt his life has been enriched by sea lions--especially those who chase the salmon up the Columbia and some of the tributaries.

As a kayaker, I feel much more enriched when the sea lions are out in the Pacific, which is "the sea" where they belong. Hey, I would even concede the mouth of the Columbia to these beasts, but I will never believe that they are doing anything but harm when they transgress beyond the saltwater.

I have witnessed many times the malicious killing of salmon, sturgeon and other species, just for the sport of it, by sea lions--seemingly when their bellies are full.

PhilS, I hope you're right that sea lions don't pose a danger to kayakers, but I know for a fact that the same does not apply to dogs that are swimming where sea lions are present. Last year, a black lab was killed by a lion as it was retrieving a stick that its master had thrown in the river.

Better question: are they delicious ? :->

Ive only had two encounters with seals/Sea Lions on both land and sea. Granted, both times I was just minding my business.
My first experience was when I visited the Galapagos Islands, I was awestruck at the breath taking beauty of the island and was oblivious to the fact that i was right in the middle of a harem of female sea lions. when i was charged by a male Who must have been protecting his harem of females. I did not see him until he charged out of the water and started to chase me down the beach. No harm was done to either myself or the sea lion.
The second encounter I had was when I was sea kayaking in Vancouver BC. A seal used the stern of my boat as a sunning spot. All I felt was the slight jarring of the boat and a scream of excitement from my boating partner. I'm not sure what I think about this Salmon VS seal debate. However, I do know that they are wild animals and the people who try and hand feed them are just stupid. Maybe that's where the problem lies is in the people NOT the animals. Animals are just trying to survive in a world consumed by man.

I paddle the waters of Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Lots of seal and sealion colonies here

It's not the seals and sealions I'd be worried about - it's the great white shark that hunts them that worries me!

A friend of mine, years ago, who was a professional diver in the ship salvage/repair business (and a former trainer of Army Rangers) told me that he had to deal with sea lions sometimes. It was his belief that sea lions look into a person's eyes and that their behavior is effected by what they perceive that way. I am not sure now precisely what he meant but I have a long-held belief that dogs are like that too.

My plan is to not get close enough to sea lions to have them look into my eyes. The same goes for dogs that weigh more than a ton.

Just found this topic.
I'm a little late but I was wondering the same thing about sea-lions last Jan. when I was retrieving ducks on Adak I.. I had some close encounters under the kayak. I tried to stick to shallow water but once in a while I had to paddle way out to get a downed bird. It was kinda spooky but in the end no problems. They were big, I think Steller's Sea Lions maybe? Gnarly kayaking out there too say the least. Sorry for the late reply.