CFIA Begins Ostrich Culling at B.C. Farm After Supreme Court Rejects Final Appeal

A large-scale operation to destroy an ostrich flock in rural British Columbia is underway after Canada’s top court declined to intervene in a long-running dispute over an avian flu order. Gunfire was heard overnight at the farm near Edgewood, where Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) staff began killing hundreds of birds inside a hay bale enclosure.

RCMP officers restricted public access to the property late Thursday, blocking the main road and turning away onlookers. Floodlights and stacked hay bales concealed most of the activity, though workers were seen entering the enclosure carrying large bags as part of the federal depopulation effort.

The CFIA confirmed it is proceeding with “complete depopulation and disposal” of the flock. The order was first issued more than ten months ago after a regional outbreak of avian influenza. The agency maintains that even apparently healthy ostriches can carry and spread the virus, creating the risk of dangerous mutations if the animals come into contact with wild birds.

The farm’s owners had argued that their ostriches were healthy and displayed signs of “herd immunity,” which they said could contribute to scientific understanding of avian flu. They had sought further testing before any cull, but the CFIA refused, citing public health concerns. The Supreme Court of Canada’s refusal to hear their appeal effectively cleared the way for the agency to proceed with the operation.

The case has drawn attention from farmers across rural B.C., where ongoing avian flu outbreaks have led to the destruction of tens of thousands of poultry in recent years.