BURNS -- Weeks before anti-government militants took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, its manager and other workers kept close watch on the arrival in Harney County of protesters tied to the Bundy family.

"There was a change in the type of people you saw in the community," said Chad Karges, who oversees the bird sanctuary for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The refuge employs its own law enforcement officer and Karges kept in touch with other police officials.

He said Fish & Wildlife Service workers in December took steps "to prepare for the unknown."

He said he maintained normal operations until Christmas, but afterward directed four maintenance workers who live on the refuge to move out. He also told employees to work always in teams.

He said refuge employees noticed people parking at the refuge headquarters and coming into the office, describing them as "not quite normal ... it was just a sense you had." Authorities shared a photo of one militant with employees as a precaution.

Tensions mounted in the county as militants pressed Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward to take steps to protect the Hammonds from imprisonment. Ward refused, and the occupation leaders and self-described militia announced a public rally and parade in protest.

Karges eventually decided on a more drastic step. Four days before the occupation, he ordered employees to lock up the refuge and leave "until further notice." He made one final trip to the headquarters to get papers - the day before the occupation. He said he saw no unusual traffic.

Karges was at his ranch home south of Burns on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 2, when he saw news that Ammon Bundy and about 15 others had broken off from a rally in town, driven to the refuge and taken over the headquarters buildings, 30 miles from Burns.

He was quickly on the phone with local and federal law enforcement and other Fish & Wildlife Service employees.

When police learned of threats against federal employees in the area, Karges was advised to leave town - and did so under police escort. He had little notice, relying on a friend to come fetch his cattle. He won't discuss any threats made to him, saying that remains part of the criminal investigation.

Jess Wenick, refuge ecologist and a Harney County native, said he returned from an overseas trip nine days after the occupation started. He made it home only briefly.

"I had to be escorted by law enforcement to pack and then leave again," he said. All refuge employees were advised to leave the area as a precaution as threats against federal worker mounted. Wenick spent the coming weeks in Portland, returning home in mid-February.

One maintenance worker hasn't returned, working at another refuge with uncertain plans to return.

Karges got home two weekends ago.

He said he finally got his holiday lights down. He still has to bring home his cattle.

-- Les Zaitz

@leszaitz