The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is questioning reports on the number of sea mammals found dead in Puget Sound in recent weeks.

A NOAA spokesperson said Tuesday that reports of a ninth and tenth sea lion found shot to death are inaccurate. Specifically, they say the report that a baby sea lion was found shot in the head at Picnic Point Park in Lynnwood is wrong. Brian Gorman with the NOAA Fisheries Service said that pup was a harbor seal, a mammal which has a hole in its head used to hear.

"Sometimes people confuse that with a gunshot wound when it's not," he said.

As of Tuesday, the number of sea mammals found dead of apparent gunshot wounds is eight. Six of those are Californian sea lions, one is a Steller sea lion, and one is a harbor seal.

The Sea Shepherd Society is offering a $10,000 reward for information that helps convict those responsible for the murders.

Brandi Kruse, 97.3 KIRO FM

You might also be interested in:

• 'Whale Wars' captain offers $10k reward for sea lion killings
• Get MyNW.com's Top Stories of the Day email