Biologist investigating what killed sea lion found on farm

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ State biologists are trying to determine what killed a sea lion that was captured and released after it was found in the driveway of a cattle farm about 50 miles from the ocean.

The News Tribune reports (http://goo.gl/g0fZ0R ) the sea lion was released into Puget Sound April 15 after the male California sea lion apparently swam and waddled its way to a farm near Oakville in Grays Harbor County. The farmer found his gate crashed open and the 350-pound animal in his driveway, about 200 yards from a Chehalis River tributary.

On Friday, a week after it was released, the sea lion was found dead under a bridge in Olympia.

A state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist examined sea lion on Sunday and found no immediate cause of death. Samples from the necropsy were sent out Tuesday to test for domoic acid exposure and other possible causes.