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Canada proceeds with ostrich cull after legal fight
More than 300 ostriches in British Columbia were euthanized late Thursday after a months-long legal battle that drew international attention, including from U.S. political figures and a New York billionaire. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials confirmed the cull followed a Supreme Court dismissal of the farm owners' final appeal earlier that day.
The farm's last stand
The ostriches, housed at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., tested positive for the H5N1 avian flu in late 2024 after an earlier outbreak killed 69 birds. Owners Katie Pasitney and her family had pivoted from raising the animals for meat to using them in medical research in recent years. Their legal challenges-arguing the cull was unnecessary and overreaching-reached Canada's highest court, which ruled in favor of the CFIA's public health mandate.
Pasitney, in a tearful video posted Friday, condemned the decision: "Shame on you, Canada. The world is watching." Witnesses reported hearing gunshots from the farm's hay-bale enclosure overnight.
Unlikely allies rally behind the birds
The case became a flashpoint for critics of government authority, attracting support from disparate figures:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Health Secretary and vocal critic of public health mandates, proposed studying the ostriches for potential avian flu immunity instead of culling them. He met with Canadian officials in May and later called the plan "indiscriminate."
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, former Trump administration official, offered to relocate the birds to his Florida estate-a proposal the farm rejected, insisting the ostriches stay in Canada.
- John Catsimatidis, New York billionaire and Republican donor, demanded a "thorough investigation" into the cull after Pasitney appealed for help on his radio show in May. He suggested the U.S. Department of Justice intervene if Canada declined.
Domestically, the farm garnered backing from anti-Covid-mandate activists like Tamara Lich, organizer of Ottawa's 2022 "Freedom Convoy," who helped fundraise for the legal defense. Local tensions escalated as protesters clashed with businesses, prompting Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intervention.
Public health vs. political symbolism
The CFIA defended the cull as necessary to protect Canada's $1-billion poultry industry and align with World Health Organization protocols for containing avian flu. Critics, however, framed the case as government overreach.
"This operation has cost Canadians millions, turned Edgewood into a spectacle, and resembles a sci-fi movie set," said Scott Anderson, a B.C. Conservative MP and farm supporter.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and most federal leaders remained silent, while Justice Minister Sean Fraser endorsed the court's decision Thursday, emphasizing the need to "protect public health and our food supply."
Why this cull stood out
Routine avian flu culls typically proceed without controversy, but this case became a magnet for U.S. figures skeptical of institutional authority. Jeremy Snyder, a public health professor at Simon Fraser University, noted the irony:
"It's wild to see U.S. cabinet members weigh in, but not surprising. This taps into narratives about government overreach-especially among groups that see 'big pharma' and mandates as threats to personal freedom."
Jeremy Snyder, Simon Fraser University
The farm's ostriches, originally slated for slaughter, had in recent years been used in research. Owners argued the birds showed no symptoms and could contribute to immunity studies-a claim the CFIA dismissed as insufficient to override biosecurity risks.
Aftermath and local impact
Edgewood, a town of roughly 1,000, saw protests turn contentious, with demonstrators hurling insults at officials ("You sick parasites, you will burn in hell") and camping on the farm property. Businesses reported disruptions, and the RCMP logged hundreds of overtime hours. The CFIA has not disclosed the operation's total cost.
With the legal path exhausted, the farm's future-and the broader debate over balancing public health with individual rights-remains unresolved.
