After Federal investigators said that the six sea lions found dead in traps on the Columbia River, this month, were gunned down, now, after investigating more, they say that it’s very likely the heat may be the cause of their deaths.

Government wildlife specialists have reached this conclusion after they performed a necropsy which revealed signs of heat stroke. The authorities will have more information in 10 days when the result of the tissue samples is scheduled to come back.

There are also some opinions that sustain this hypothesis.

According to the Associated Press, Marine mammal experts said that, although the temperature is of 60-degree, these animals are used to colder waters and can overheat very fast.

Steven Brown, veterinarian for the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport said that the sea lions might have panicked when they realized they were trapped in the cages and got restless, causing their body temperature to elevate.

The states of Washington and Oregon have federal authorization to capture as many as 85 sea lions per year as these animals eat endangered salmon but, seeing that the investigation is not over, the Humane Society made the decision to suspend the trapping of the sea lions this year.

The bodies of the sea lions have been taken to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service's forensics laboratory in Ashland, Oregon where, if needed, toxicological test will be done.