Supreme Court delays cull
Canada’s Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the planned killing of nearly 400 ostriches on a farm in British Columbia. The owners protested the order, drawing international attention, including from senior U.S. officials. The decision, announced Wednesday, allows the birds to remain under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) custody while the owners appeal.
Police action and farm protests
The day before, authorities briefly arrested the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms for obstructing food inspectors, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said. Inspectors held a warrant to search the property, accompanied by officers due to heightened tensions and ongoing protests. The CFIA confirmed it will continue caring for the birds, providing feed, water, and veterinary oversight. Warranted access to specific areas of the farm remains limited without CFIA permission.
Farm owners fight cull order
Katie Pastiney, co-owner of the Edgewood farm, said on Facebook that she and her mother, Karen Espersen, were arrested while feeding the ostriches. The family has waged a months-long legal battle to stop the cull. The case has attracted global attention, including a May letter from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy urging the CFIA to study the birds. Dr. Mehmet Oz offered to relocate the ostriches to his Florida ranch, but the farm rejected the offer. Pastiney also appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk for intervention.
Avian flu outbreak prompted cull
The CFIA ordered the cull in December after an avian flu outbreak killed 69 ostriches. The agency warned that keeping exposed birds alive could allow the virus to persist, increase the risk of mutation, and raise potential threats to human health. Open-pasture birds face particular risk due to ongoing contact with wildlife.
Controversy at the farm
Videos posted by Pastiney show CFIA officials building enclosures from hay bales to corral the ostriches. Local media reported that part of a hay-bale wall caught fire Wednesday morning, and firefighters extinguished it. Authorities have not confirmed the cause. Protesters have gathered at the farm since Monday following the arrival of RCMP and CFIA personnel.
Legal developments
The Supreme Court’s action follows a Federal Court of Appeal ruling on September 12 that allowed the cull. Judge Gerald Heckman said the farm presented no “serious or arguable issue” for review by the top court. In Wednesday’s order, Supreme Court Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin instructed the CFIA to maintain custody of the birds. The farm must not interfere while the court considers whether to hear the case. The federal agency must respond to the appeal by October 3.
