Authorities are investigating whether two sea lions that washed up in Seal Beach today suffered gunshot wounds.
The sea lions, found early morning, were found after two other sea lions washed up the day before.
In the latest findings, one sea lion washed up on the north side of the pier, the other on the south side. Small holes were found on the bodies, but investigators could not confirm if they were bullet holes because the carcasses were so badly decomposed. 
All marine animals are protected and any killing of them is prohibited by federal law, said Christina Ramirez, enforcement officer.
The law - passed in 1972 - makes it illegal to kill or harass sea lions. If someone wants to do something that would have an effect on sea lions, they must get a permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Last October, a man was arrested after stabbing a sea lion with a steak knife in Newport Beach. He faced a maximum penalty of one year in jail and $20,000 fine, but was let off with probation after pleading guilty.

In the latest  case, the dead sea lions were taken to an isolated area away from beachgoers and waited until investigators got there.
“The sea gulls liked it,” said Ed Nelson, 25, who was sitting near the carcass until it was hauled away by city employees.
Instead of bury the carcasses like they normally do when sea lions wash up, lifeguards contacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to see whether they wanted to take a look.
 Stephanie Picha, special agent for NOAA, put on plastic gloves to look at holes in the dead animals, flipping them over to take a closer look.
Both carcasses were missing heads – likely because they were dead for so long, and other animals got to them, said 
“Do you see that right there, that’s kind of weird,” Picha said as she observed the animal, pointing at a cookie-cutter sized circle on the body.
Picha said three Elephant Seals were died recently after being shot in northern california, and there have been several reports of shot animals in the past year. Ramirez said five dolphins were recently found shot in San Diego.
The NOAA officials loaded up the carcasses to take to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro to do a necropsy.

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