Canadian federal agency says cull over, all ostriches shot dead at British Columbia farm

Canadian Officials Complete Controversial Ostrich Cull Over Bird Flu Concerns

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Friday it has completed the shooting of all ostriches at a British Columbia farm, ending a contentious 10-month standoff over a bird flu outbreak order.

Professional marksmen carried out the cull Thursday evening at the Edgewood, British Columbia farm under veterinary supervision, with the agency insisting the process was conducted humanely. The flock, estimated between 300 and 330 birds, was eliminated after the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the owners’ final appeal, removing the last legal barrier to the cull.

“We’re broken and can’t imagine the suffering last night. We can’t get out of bed,” wrote farm spokeswoman Katie Pasitney in an emotional Facebook post Friday. Pasitney’s mother, Karen Espersen, is a co-owner of the property.

Witnesses described a disturbing scene as the cull began around 6 p.m. Thursday in darkness, with multiple shots fired in quick succession. Farm supporter Janice Tyndall, 72, told reporters she listened to the shooting intermittently for a couple hours before she “couldn’t stomach it anymore” and left.

By Friday morning, the once-active holding pens stood empty. Blue tarpaulins covered with black sheeting shrouded objects on the ground where the birds had been kept, with no live ostriches visible anywhere on the property.

The cull marks the end of a prolonged dispute between farm owners and Canadian authorities. The farmers had fought the order through multiple court challenges since it was first issued last year, arguing that the surviving ostriches showed no signs of illness and should be spared. They contended the birds had developed “herd immunity” and could provide valuable data for scientific research on avian influenza resistance.

However, the CFIA remained firm in its position that apparently healthy ostriches could still harbor the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Officials cited concerns that allowing the flock to live increased the risk of dangerous viral mutations, particularly if the birds were exposed to wildlife carriers.

The case had attracted high-profile attention from across the border. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent a letter to the CFIA president urging reconsideration of the destruction order. Additionally, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former television personality who now serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, offered his Florida ranch as a potential relocation site for the birds.

The cull highlights ongoing tensions between agricultural producers and regulatory agencies tasked with containing the spread of highly contagious animal diseases. Bird flu outbreaks have devastated poultry operations across North America in recent years, with the H5N1 strain causing particular concern due to its high mortality rate and potential for zoonotic transmission.

The CFIA stated that the farm owners are eligible for compensation of up to 3,000 Canadian dollars (approximately US$2,136) per ostrich under federal agricultural indemnification programs.

Wildlife and agricultural experts note that such culls, while controversial, represent standard protocol for controlling highly contagious diseases in livestock populations. The H5N1 strain has caused significant economic damage to poultry industries worldwide and poses potential public health risks, though human infections remain relatively rare.

For the Edgewood farm owners, the financial compensation will likely do little to offset their emotional distress and sense of loss. Local community members have expressed support for the farmers while questioning whether alternative containment measures might have been possible.

The CFIA maintains that its actions were necessary to protect Canada’s agricultural sector and prevent potential mutation of the virus into forms that could more easily infect humans or other species.