Oregon wildlife refuge occupiers took a literal dump near 'sensitive artifacts' in sacred Paiute grounds, FBI says

Oregon wildlife refuge occupiers left a trench full of "feces" near sacred Paiute grounds, FBI says
(Image credit: Getty Images)

In court documents filed Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Billy Williams said that the FBI has uncovered a trench with "significant amounts of human feces" at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon. The FBI started processing evidence at the refuge on Saturday, two days after the final four armed militants ended a 41-day occupation of the public wildlife facility. As part of its crime-scene processing, the FBI is working with the Burns Paiute Tribe to catalogue any damage to the tribal artifacts and sacred burial grounds on refuge property.

It was in this part of the refuge that the occupiers apparently set up a camp. "Occupiers appear to have excavated two large trenches and an improvised road on or adjacent to grounds containing sensitive artifacts," Williams wrote. He also said that the FBI is concerned that buildings and vehicles were booby trapped by the occupiers. The occupation cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and state and local authorities are seeking to recoup their part of the expenses from the federal government and 12 occupiers arrested for obstructing federal agents, Reuters reports.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

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.