U.S. agency spending millions to clean, upgrade Oregon wildlife refuge



BURNS, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will spend roughly $4 million to clean, repair and upgrade the Oregon wildlife refuge that was the site of a 41-day armed occupation by ranchers earlier this year.

The Oregonian reports that Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe says he wants the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns to become a symbol to the rest of the country that collaboration, not confrontation, endures. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell made similar statements during her visit to the refuge earlier this week.

Photos of the refuge shared by federal officials show that the ranchers left a mess inside the building.

The compound is currently undergoing a giant spring cleaning, complete with industrial vacuums and cargo trailers filled with cleaning supplies.