Oregon Public Broadcasting

The habitat for burrowing owls is shrinking.  Because of that, the Umatilla Chemical Depot has become prime real-estate. Correspondent Anna King reprorts.

But at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, that desert habitat has been protected by heavily armed guards for more than 60 years. The owls have been making homes in badger dens and old pipes at the Depot.

U.S. Army spokesman Bruce Henrickson says Depot officials recently decided to help the owls by installing 18 artificial burrows. Henrickson: "Whenever we see wildlife then, that is a sign that we’ve contained any potentially harmful emissions. And for wildlife here at the Depot, it’s just life as usual."  Henrickson says the owls don’t hurt anything at the Depot. Since the chemical weapons are stored in underground concrete bunkers.