On a chilly November evening in Edgewood, British Columbia, the usually quiet Universal Ostrich Farms became the epicenter of a national controversy that has rippled far beyond its rural fences. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), acting on the heels of a Supreme Court decision, moved swiftly to cull the farm’s entire ostrich population—an act that has left a community divided, animal rights advocates stunned, and government agencies defending their protocols in the face of fierce criticism.
The drama unfolded over several tense days, culminating on November 7, 2025, when the CFIA announced the completion of the cull. The agency’s decision followed the detection of H5N1 avian influenza at the farm nearly a year earlier, in December 2024—a deadly outbreak that had already claimed the lives of 69 ostriches. According to the CBC and Global News Canada, the farm was home to an estimated 300 to 330 ostriches before the cull began.
Authorities, citing the Health of Animals Act, quarantined Universal Ostrich Farms as soon as the outbreak was confirmed. The CFIA, after consulting with disease experts, concluded that “the most appropriate and humane option was to use professional marksmen in a controlled on-farm setting,” as stated in their official release. The entire operation was carried out under veterinary supervision, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) remaining on site to ensure order during what they described as the “dynamic portion” of the operation. Thankfully, police reported that there were no injuries or arrests throughout the process.
For the farm’s owners and supporters, the cull was nothing short of devastating. In a poignant Facebook post, Karen Espersen, one of the co-owners, expressed her heartbreak: “There are no words that can describe how we feel. Rest in peace my feathered friends. This is a sad day for Canada.” The sentiment was echoed by her daughter and farm spokesperson, Katie Pasitney, who didn’t mince words when speaking to The Guardian: “They are prehistoric animals that have survived millions of years, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.” Pasitney further condemned the agency’s actions as “murdering healthy birds” and vowed to advocate for change, stating, “I hope that this is a turning point in Canada where we create a better way, proper outbreak response, preservation and protection.”
The farm’s owners maintained throughout the ordeal that the cull was unnecessary. They argued that their flock was healthy, had developed “herd immunity,” and could have been valuable for scientific research into avian flu. They pleaded for the CFIA to retest the birds, but their appeals ultimately fell on deaf ears. The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision on November 6, 2025, to decline hearing a final appeal from the farm’s owners effectively sealed the fate of the ostriches.
The CFIA, for its part, stood firm on its position, emphasizing the unpredictable and dangerous nature of avian influenza. The agency warned that even birds that appear healthy can still harbor the virus, potentially spreading it or allowing it to mutate if exposed to wildlife. The cull, they argued, was in line with Canada’s “stamping out” policy—a protocol that calls for the rapid and lethal removal of infected animals to halt the spread of disease, following guidance from the World Health Organization. Since 2022, this policy has resulted in the culling of more than 8.7 million birds in British Columbia alone, according to the CBC, accounting for over half of the national total of 14.5 million birds culled.
The case quickly attracted international attention. In May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. personally lobbied Canadian officials in an attempt to save the ostriches, suggesting that the birds could be used for avian flu research. Mehmet Oz, the U.S. Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—better known to many as Dr. Oz—offered to relocate the ostriches to his ranch in Florida, but the farm declined. Despite these high-profile interventions, neither Kennedy nor Oz commented publicly following the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
The cull and the drawn-out legal battle have ignited a broader debate across Canada about government authority, outbreak response, and the role of public trust in health mandates. Conservative MP Scott Anderson, whose constituency includes the affected farm, voiced his disappointment in Ottawa: “I think it goes to underscore the structural need for change within the CFIA.” Meanwhile, B.C. Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Popham described the situation as “very challenging,” offering sympathy to all farmers grappling with avian influenza outbreaks while deferring to the CFIA’s authority. “We respect the decision of the courts and the authority of the CFIA who lead the investigation and response to all avian influenza outbreaks,” Popham stated.
The community of Edgewood itself has been left reeling. Resident Brian Ewings told CBC News that, although he felt it was unfortunate, many locals believed the cull “had to be done.” Still, he acknowledged the deep divisions the event had sown: “It’ll get back to normal, but there’ll be some people that there’s animosity, and it’s bound to hang on with a few people.”
The emotional and ethical questions raised by the cull have resonated with Canadians from all walks of life. Protesters, stunned by the method and scale of the cull, gathered at the farm as the ostriches were herded into hay bale pens and, later, loaded into bins after the shooting. Video footage circulated widely on social media, fueling public outcry and reigniting long-standing debates about animal welfare, biosecurity, and the limits of government intervention.
At the heart of the controversy lies a fundamental dilemma: how to balance the urgent need to contain deadly animal diseases with the rights of property owners, the welfare of animals, and the public’s trust in government institutions. The CFIA’s actions were, by their own account, guided by scientific evidence and international best practices. Yet, for those who lost their livelihoods—and for the ostriches themselves—such assurances provide little comfort.
As the dust settles in Edgewood, the aftermath of the cull serves as a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in managing animal disease outbreaks. With millions of birds already lost to avian influenza across British Columbia, the story of Universal Ostrich Farms stands as a powerful—and painful—case study in the challenges of public health, animal welfare, and government accountability in a world where outbreaks are becoming all too common.
