The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) carried out a search warrant at a B.C. ostrich farm in Edgewood where approximately 400 birds are slated for culling due to avian flu concerns. The farm, known as Universal Ostrich Farms, has been embroiled in a legal battle, protests, and even attracted the attention of officials from the White House.
In a video shared by farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney, individuals in uniforms were seen engaging with people on the farm’s premises. The CFIA representative requested the supporters to vacate the area designated for the ostriches citing the warrant’s authority. A CBC News correspondent on-site reported a tense atmosphere with protesters confronting law enforcement.
RCMP provided assistance to CFIA in executing the search warrant, granting them lawful authority for the operation. Pasitney, in a video posted on social media, appealed to followers to prevent the culling, emphasizing compassion for the animals. Brenda Bernhardt, a retired veterinarian present at the farm, expressed concerns over the government’s actions, describing it as a “tyrannical overreach.”
The conflict between Universal Ostrich Farms and CFIA stems from an avian flu outbreak in December that resulted in the death of 69 ostriches. CFIA asserts that the culling is necessary to align with international protocols for managing avian flu in commercial poultry settings. Despite the farm’s shift from selling ostriches for meat to utilizing them for research, they argue that the healthy birds should be spared.
The farm has pursued legal avenues, including appeals to higher courts, but rulings have consistently upheld the cull order as compliant with CFIA’s scientific decisions on avian flu. The situation has garnered support from numerous activists gathering at the farm, including advocacy from U.S. figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, urging the Canadian government to reconsider.
While CFIA has not disclosed the timing of the cull, a local vehicle rental company revealed that their trucks were contracted for the operation. Following public backlash, the company reclaimed its trucks, disavowing any prior knowledge of their involvement in the potential cull.
