Dead Steller sea lion washes ashore in Cannon Beach

CANNON BEACH, Ore. – People gathered this weekend to watch researchers perform a necropsy on a Steller sea lion that was found dead near Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach.

The Daily Astorian reports the sea lion that washed ashore Feb. 26 was moved to south to a more remote section of beach.

Stranded animals are typically dissected quickly and quietly to avoid upsetting onlookers. Keith Chandler from the Seaside Aquarium said they decided to wait until the weekend this time so people attending a marine-education conference could watch for educational purposes.

Portland State biology professor Debbie Duffield and volunteers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Network dissected the 8-foot long creature for tissue samples that will later be tested for research purposes and a cause of death.