The National Marine Fisheries Service is investigating the deaths of at least four sea lions and a seal that have been found shot on a beach in West Seattle over the past week.

One of the animals is a Steller's sea lion, which is protected under the Endangered Species Act. The incident was first reported on the West Seattle Blog.

"We get one or two of these incidents a year," said Brian Gorman, with the Fisheries Service. "It's very unusual to get multiple incidents."

Gorman said four sea lions and a harbor seal were found shot after the carcasses washed up on the beach. In addition, he said, residents say another sea lion appears to be weak and in distress in the water, but he doesn't know if it's related to the shootings.

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