All photos provided by USFWS, Pacific Region

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released photographs from the scene of the month-long standoff at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, showing that the armed occupiers, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the citizenry, to protect their land from federal overreach, left the place a godforsaken mess.

The photos were taken after the FBI removed evidence from the site pertinent to the 26-person criminal conspiracy case. “These pictures are a microcosm of how bad it really was,” Jason Holm, assistant regional director for the Fish and Wildlife Service, told the Guardian.

As for the federal employees returning to their workplace, Holm said, “It brings out some emotions and some anger.”

“They are thrilled to be back. These are people who generally don’t become biologists to be in the public sphere. They love creatures and places and are passionate about doing their jobs.”

According to the Guardian, USFWS officials said that the cost of the occupation is already at least $6 million.