In the tranquil community of Edgewood, British Columbia, the Universal Ostrich Farm once boasted hundreds of the world’s largest birds strutting through their pens. But this November, the farm’s landscape changed dramatically, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) wrapped up a months-long operation that has drawn national—and even international—attention. The reason? The culling and disposal of 314 ostriches after a devastating outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
According to the Agassiz Harrison Observer, the avian flu outbreak was first declared at the farm back in December 2024. What followed was a protracted legal and emotional battle between the farm’s owners and federal authorities. The CFIA, acting under the authority of the Health of Animals Act and Regulations, ordered a full cull of the farm’s entire ostrich population. The farm, determined to fight for its birds, challenged the order in court at every possible level, but ultimately lost, leading to a delayed but inevitable culling on November 6, 2025.
By November 13, 2025, the RCMP and CFIA had completed their active operations at the site. All ostrich carcasses, eggs, and related materials were disposed of through deep burial in an approved British Columbia landfill, as confirmed by the CFIA’s public statements. The agency emphasized that every precaution was taken to prevent further spread of the disease: “All equipment was disinfected when leaving designated zones,” the CFIA stated, underscoring the rigorous biocontainment protocols enforced throughout the process.
With the blue quarantine fencing now removed as of November 14, the once-bustling farm stands eerily empty, its bare pens and enclosures a stark reminder of what was lost. Access to the premises remains tightly controlled—anyone wishing to enter requires explicit permission from the CFIA, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is still mandated within designated quarantine zones. The farm itself is still under quarantine, and the CFIA has provided owners with detailed documentation regarding the cleaning and disinfection requirements that must be met before restrictions can be lifted. “Every HPAI infected premises must follow a standardized path to resuming operations including completion of CFIA-approved cleaning and disinfection before CFIA quarantine restrictions are lifted,” the agency explained.
The end of the culling operation marks the conclusion of a bitter legal fight that spanned nearly a year. As Global News reported in its November 14, 2025, broadcast, the farm’s owners battled the cull order in court for months, hoping to save their birds and, at one point, even proposed using the outbreak as an opportunity to study the disease and develop an antigen for other avian species. But the law was not on their side. The CFIA’s mandate is clear: eradicate outbreaks swiftly to protect the broader agricultural sector and public health.
Yet, not everyone is satisfied with how the cull was carried out. Animal Justice, a Canadian animal law advocacy group, has been vocally critical of the methods used. Camille Labchuk, the group’s executive director and a lawyer, described the mass shooting of ostriches as “horrifying” and called for an immediate review. In a statement quoted by the Agassiz Harrison Observer, Labchuk said, “Shooting hundreds of ostriches in full view of one another is a method that would have caused extreme fear and suffering, and it should never have been considered acceptable.” Her words have resonated with animal welfare advocates nationwide, reigniting a debate over humane practices in emergency livestock disease responses.
The CFIA, for its part, insists that its actions were guided by established protocols designed to minimize suffering and prevent further disease transmission. The agency’s procedures are not unique to ostriches; similar measures have been used in the past for outbreaks involving chickens, turkeys, and other poultry. Still, the scale and visibility of the Edgewood cull—and the unusual nature of ostriches as the affected species—have drawn extra scrutiny.
For residents of Edgewood and the surrounding region, the sight of RCMP vehicles and walls of hay bales erected around the ostrich enclosures was both surreal and unsettling. Some community members expressed sympathy for the farm owners, who had invested years into building up their flock and were, at one point, hopeful that their birds could contribute to scientific research. Others, however, acknowledged the necessity of strict disease control, especially given the catastrophic impact avian flu can have on both wild and domestic bird populations.
The CFIA has reiterated that any formal request for compensation from the farm will be reviewed in accordance with the Health of Animals Act and the Compensation for Destroyed Animals and Things Regulations (CDATR). “The CDATR are the regulations that set the parameters and eligibility for compensation that may be provided to owners who have been ordered to destroy their animals or things,” the agency explained. The goal, they say, is to encourage early reporting of animal disease and cooperation in eradication efforts—a message that, while logical, may offer little comfort to a farm now left with empty pens and uncertain prospects.
Meanwhile, the broader Canadian agricultural community is watching closely. Outbreaks of avian influenza have become an increasingly common threat in recent years, prompting authorities to act decisively to contain them. The Edgewood ostrich cull stands as a stark example of the difficult choices faced when animal health, public safety, and livelihoods collide.
As the dust settles and the last official vehicles depart, questions linger. Could the cull have been handled differently? Is there a more humane way to respond to such outbreaks in the future? And how will the Universal Ostrich Farm—and the tight-knit community that supported it—move forward?
For now, the story of Edgewood’s ostriches is one of loss, controversy, and the relentless march of disease control. The farm’s future remains uncertain, its fields silent but for the echoes of a hard-fought battle that ended not with victory, but with the hope that lessons learned here might inform a better path forward the next time crisis strikes.
