The Pacific Patriots Network surrounded the Harney County Courthouse in January, where they met with Sheriff Dave Ward.
Dave Blanchard / OPB
It has been 10 days since a self-described militia group seized control of a wildlife refuge in Harney County, Oregon, and with each day, the situation on the ground grows in both complexity and numbers.
Led by Ammon Bundy, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers Monday used government equipment to breech a cattle fence between public and private land. Bundy also said the group is going through documents stored at the refuge in an effort to expose what he said is the mistreatment of local ranchers by the federal government.
Adding to an already tense situation is Saturday's reappearance of the Pacific Patriots Network, a collective of individuals responsible for a Jan. 2 rally in support of two ranchers convicted of arson on federal grounds.
OPB reporter Amanda Peacher spoke with All Things Considered host Kate Davidson about the Pacific Patriot Networks’ goals as well as how residents in the nearby community of Burns have reacted to this growing cast of characters. You can hear their full conversation by clicking on the audio link at the top of this article.