A man was wanted in the United States on Tuesday for decapitating a lifeless sea lion, an illegal act that California has experienced twice in less than a year.

Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect, who used a hunting knife to commit his crime in July.

"After sawing off the seal's head, he placed the head in a zip-lock plastic bag and left the area in a late-model white Cadillac Escalade," according to a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The suspect is described as a bald, white male with a full beard who appears to be between 50 and 60 years old. He committed the crime on Point Pinos Beach, about 80 miles south of San Francisco.

Another deceased sea lion was previously decapitated on Christmas Day 2024, this time about 100 kilometers north of San Francisco. The suspect in this case is believed to be about 20 years younger and also placed the pinniped's head in a plastic bag, according to authorities.

He allegedly fled on a fat-tire electric bike.

In the United States, it is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill sea lions and other marine wildlife.

Sea lions are iconic on the west coast of North America. Their distinctive barks can often be heard in San Francisco, whether along the waterfront or near the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Known for their intelligence, they are sometimes trained to perform tricks in circuses and aquariums, and have been used by the U.S. Navy for military operations.