Sea Lions In Jail, But Zoo Isn’t Death Row Tacoma Zoo Will Hold Animals Until End Of Steelhead Run

The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium may be used as a holding tank for steelhead-eating sea lions but not as death row, director Tom Otten says.

California sea lions that are captured for preying on severely depleted fish runs at the Ballard Locks in Seattle won’t be accepted by the zoo unless they are destined for release at the end of the steelhead run in mid-May, Otten said.

“We feel more comfortable with that arrangement,” he said.

The issue is academic for now because the death sentence has been lifted for the most notorious and habitual offender, known as No. 17 and nicknamed Hondo, said Bob Everitt, regional director for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Any thought we might have had of destroying this animal, we’ve let go,” Everitt said. “He’s no longer on death row. He’s just in jail.”

Hondo was captured at the locks Jan. 25 and is being held at a hatchery in the suburbs near Fort Lewis.

Otten said it would cost about $90,000 and require about a month to install two 14-foot diameter pools for as many as eight sea lions at the zoo. The money would come from the state.

In December the state got federal permission to kill nuisance sea lions at the locks as a last resort to preserve fish runs.