Militants in Oregon hijack government bulldozer to take down fence at occupied refuge


On Monday, the armed group occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon, hijacked a federal Wildcat excavator and ripped out an 80-foot section of fence separating the public birding refuge from a private cattle ranch. "I feel like this is the first step of many in restoring ranchers' rights," group leader Ammon Bundy told reporters and the two dozen or so people occupying the nature preserve with him. He said the tearing down of the barbed wire will allow cattle from the Puckett family ranch to graze in the refuge.
Ammon and the handful of militants took over the Malheur refuge and federal buildings inside it on Jan. 2. They say they won't leave until the federal government turns over control of public lands in the area to the county. Most county residents oppose the Ammon gang's armed occupation, and the county sheriff, David Ward, has asked them to leave. On Monday, Ward said that reports of vandalism, harassment, and intimidation have risen sharply in the area since the out-of-state protesters arrived.
Birders are especially angry about the occupation, and worried about destruction caused by moves like Monday's vandalism. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the reserve, isn't thrilled either. "This refuge belongs to the American public," said spokesman Jason Holm. "The steps they're taking — the occupation they're doing — actually robs the American public of experiencing one of the premier wildlife and birding refuges in the United States. It upsets us. But it should upset all Americans."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein