2025 Canadian ostrich culling controversy

The 2025 Canadian ostrich culling controversy is a legal, political, and social issue in Canada, triggered by the conflict between Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA), ordering to cull 400 ostriches, following the detection of Influenza A virus subtype H5N8. The conflict and the culling order has cause many protests and legal battles, reaching The Supreme Court of Canada. This case has also attracted international attention as American political figures intervened as well as animal welfare organizations.

Background

The Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, British Columbia, run by owners Dave Bilinski and Karen Espersen, has a flock of more than 300 ostriches.^[1][2][3]

In February 2020 the flock was hit with severe illness that resulted in the deaths of about 10 ostriches. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli bacterial infections, but the farm speculates that avian influenza may have contributed.^[4]

In December 2024, flu-like symptoms were observed in the flock following exposure to 300-500 wild ducks. An anonymous source reported multiple deaths after 25-30 ostriches had died over 3 weeks, and prompted CFIA to intervene.^[4]

"On December 31, 2024, the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network laboratory in Abbotsford, British Columbia, reported positive test results for the H5 avian influenza subtype. On January 3, 2025, the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Winnipeg, Manitoba, confirmed through genome sequencing that the pathogen was a HPAI subtype."^[5]

The story in the farm's website is that on December 10 a young ostrich fell sick. Even though he recovered, over the course of 36 days other ostriches fell sick resulting in the death of 69 birds of the 468 on the farm, which makes 15% of the flock.^[6]

CFIA Order

A Notice to Dispose was posted by CFIA on December 31, 2024, once the H5 avian influenza was confirmed, with a deadline of disposal by February 1, 2025.

The CFIA cited reasons of animal health and economic interests:

"Our disease response aims to protect both public and animal health, as well as minimize impacts on the $6.8 billion domestic poultry industry, and the Canadian economy. This supports Canadian families and poultry farmers whose livelihoods depend on maintaining international market access for $1.75 billion in exports."^[7]

The farm owners took the case to court, arguing that the surviving ostriches could help with scientific research and that safer options, like quarantine, should be tried instead.^[8][9]

Legal actions and court interventions

After the culling order was issued and the lower court denied upheld the their appeal, the owners of the farm along with supporters launched a series of legal appeals, reaching the Supreme court of Canada.^[8][9] On September 23 and 24 is decided on a temporary halt of the order, while a full review will take place.^[10] The CFIA along with government lawyers stated that the order falls under the international law regarding avian flu control cases, and that the risk from the disease is still high.^[9][8] "In fact, according to the CFIA, the farm said in court that 'individuals associated with the infected premises have reported that they had their own blood tested and H5N1 antibodies were detected.'”^[11] During the conflict the farm owners were arrested for civil disobedience, after remaining in the Ostrich Pen after being told multiple times to remove themselves^[10]

Protests, social and international response

The issue sparked protests at the farm and led to online activity.^[2][12] the Supporters targeted local businesses and workers they believed were helping with the cull.^[13] The CFIA acknowledged coordinated efforts to disrupt their services by engaging their phone lines with false requests.^[14]

The CFIA brought in a large amount of large square bales of straw to. It was guarded heavily by RCMP officers. The straw combusted and ignited still being investigated by RCMP. The local fire department extinguished the fire, however the CFIA did not break up the bales, thus the smoldering continued and 2 more fires ignited. The CFIA eventually had the burnt bales opened and spread across the field and then brought in more semi-trailer loads of straw to continue building the cull zone.^[12]

RCMP provided 24 hour protection for a neighbor to the farm when a suspected protestor from the ostrich farm assaulted her and was accused of dousing her and her property with gasoline.^[15]

International

The case got attention in the US, where politicians Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz offered sanctuary and research money for the ostriches.^[9][16][6]

The owners of the farm and supporters claimed that the CFIA were not caring for the ostriches after one ostrich had been injured due to the RCMP flying a helicopter and drones too near the ostriches which spooked them and one ostrich ran through a fence and seriously injured itself. The CFIA have been accused of not giving appropriate treatment to the injured ostrich. The CFIA opened pens and herded old, infirm, blind and birds in recovery from injuries sustained, into the main population of other ostriches where they could be injured or attacked by other ostriches. The owners demanded that these ostriches be returned to their separate pen.

Further legal proceedings

Further court hearings are scheduled for October 2025 leaving the future of the ostriches unclear. The Supreme court allowed the birds to stay alive only if they are properly taken care of.^[2][17]

See also

• Ostrich farming in North America
• Influenza pandemic