In a saga that has gripped both Canada and the United States, the mass culling of more than 300 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, has ignited fierce debate, protests, and even acts of vandalism. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the destruction of the birds after detecting avian influenza last December, a move that has divided scientists, politicians, animal rights advocates, and the local community.
The controversy began on December 31, 2024, when the CFIA issued a Notice to Dispose after two ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza. Within weeks, 69 ostriches died with flu-like symptoms, prompting the agency to invoke its strict “stamping-out” policy—requiring the destruction of infected flocks to prevent the spread of disease. This policy, according to the CFIA, is designed to protect human and animal health as well as Canada’s international trade access, which is valued at $1.75 billion in poultry exports.
Farm owners Karen Espersen, Dave Bilinski, and their daughter Katie Pasitney fought the cull in court, arguing that many of the birds had developed natural immunity and could offer valuable scientific insights. Their legal battle lasted nearly a year, reaching the Supreme Court of Canada, which ultimately declined to hear their final appeal on November 6, 2025. That same day, the CFIA announced it would "be moving forward to complete depopulation and disposal measures." Hours later, teams in protective suits began culling the ostriches by shooting them behind hay bale barricades—a method the agency called the most humane option given the birds’ size and numbers.
The forced cull did not go quietly. Demonstrators gathered outside the farm, shouting at CFIA staff and blocking vehicles. Some supporters camped on the property, and tensions rose to the point that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) became involved. Local businesses reported harassment from activists who had traveled to the area, turning what began as a local dispute into a national flashpoint.
International attention soon followed. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz publicly opposed the cull, arguing that the surviving ostriches could be studied for natural immunity to H5N1. Kennedy and Oz suggested relocating the birds to Florida for research, with Oz offering his own ranch as a sanctuary. New York businessman John Catsimatidis also backed efforts to save the flock, calling for further examination rather than destruction. Kennedy’s stance highlighted a larger debate: whether to prioritize natural immunity research or vaccine-driven disease control. As Kennedy argued, “The surviving ostriches could teach us how to fight bird flu naturally by studying how the birds build their own immunity.”
Critics of the cull, including the farm’s owners, accused the CFIA and pharmaceutical companies of prioritizing profits over science. Bilinski told a crowd of supporters, “They won’t listen to the science. They know goddamn well that those birds have the strongest antibodies out there right now and they’re destroying them. I’m afraid there’s—in my opinion—there’s no justice left.” Pasitney, meanwhile, posted on social media: “What evidence-based agricultural policy? No tests done after herd immunity was achieved. How about a data framework for continued testing of animals, more collaboration with agencies and small farmers… or ratites policy that’s more in line with truth, ostriches are not poultry.”
The stakes are high, not just for the birds but for the future of disease management. According to MarketSearchFuture.com, the vaccine industry is projected to be worth $3.41 billion in 2025, compared to approximately $85 million for natural immunity studies. For every dollar spent on researching the ostriches, drugmakers expect to earn nearly $40 on bird flu vaccines. This economic disparity has fueled suspicions among some that the cull was as much about protecting a lucrative market as it was about public health.
After the cull, tensions in the region reached a boiling point. Over the weekend following the destruction of the flock, the CFIA office in Kelowna, British Columbia, was vandalized. According to Newsweek, windows and doors were smeared with feces, spelling out an obscenity, and eggs were thrown at the building. The Kelowna RCMP responded on Sunday, November 9, and launched an investigation, reviewing video surveillance to identify those responsible. The CFIA reported ongoing harassment and threats to its employees and offices from individuals opposed to the disease control measures. In a statement to Newsweek, the agency said, “Acts of vandalism, harassment and intimidation against CFIA facilities and employees not only endanger staff but also impede the Agency’s ability to deliver critical services that protect Canada’s food supply, animals, plants, and the health of Canadians.”
The vandalism and the ostrich cull have intensified a broader debate about government transparency, scientific protocol, and trust in regulatory institutions. Critics argue that the CFIA’s approach was heavy-handed and lacked transparency, while supporters maintain that strict biosecurity measures are necessary to prevent catastrophic outbreaks. The CFIA defends its policies, stating that its “stamping out” strategy is essential for maintaining Canada’s reputation and access to lucrative global markets.
Meanwhile, the farm’s owners and their supporters remain unconvinced. Pasitney lamented, “They are prehistoric animals that have survived millions of years, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.” The family insists that more collaboration and ongoing testing could have offered a better path forward, one that balanced public health with scientific curiosity and animal welfare.
Cleanup is now underway at Universal Ostrich Farms, but the wounds left by the cull—both literal and figurative—are far from healed. More than 14 million birds have been culled in Canada since 2022 due to avian influenza, a staggering number that underscores the scale of the threat and the challenge of managing it.
The Kelowna RCMP investigation into the vandalism is ongoing, and the debate over how best to balance public health, scientific research, and economic interests shows no sign of abating. As communities, scientists, and policymakers grapple with these questions, the ostrich cull stands as a stark reminder of the complexities—and the passions—that surround disease control in the modern world.