"Shooting deaths of five seals under investigation on Cape Cod" June 10, 2011|By Beth Daley, Globe Staff
Five adult gray seals were found shot to death on Cape Cod beaches last month in what appears to be the most serious attack on marine mammals in at least three decades in New England.
The seals, all with gunshot wounds to the head, were found over a two-week period on beaches from Dennis to Chatham by the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s marine mammal rescue and research team. Investigators got their first clues to the gruesome deaths when they examined what they thought were two stranded seals and discovered bullet holes in their skulls.
They have subsequently identified three other seals killed in the same manner.
The shootings have occurred as gray seals — once hunted so widely that they all but vanished from Northeast waters — are making a dramatic comeback off New England, to mixed reviews.
While many beachgoers love to watch the 300- to 600-pound bulbous creatures frolic on beaches, the animals are believed to be luring great white sharks into coastal waters where people swim. And some fishermen complain the seals are depleting the fish population they depend on....
I think we just found a motive.
--more--"
Related: Seals divide Chatham views; 6th found fatally shot
