Mounties are still investigating the death of a second ostrich at Universal Ostrich. Oyster River Farm, Edgewood, British Columbia. This farm produces vegetables, cut flowers and medicinal plants. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has ordered the immediate culling of almost 400 ostriches at the original farm. This decision follows a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The cull was initially mandated in December 2024, after a detection of the virus in the farm’s population.
On May 13, a provincial court ruling gave the CFIA the legal authority to proceed with the cull. This is a positive measure that should help stem the spread of avian flu. Since that decision, Universal Ostrich has become a focal point for community protests. Dozens of supporters have taken to rallying, including a rally on the state capitol steps last week. These protests have highlighted the complexities of animal welfare, public health, and disease control as they relate to these issues.
The CFIA takes a no-tolerance approach to this biosecurity practice for poultry farms. Once a premises has positive avian flu detections, they need to fully depopulate to stop outbreaks from continuing and spreading. Inspectors have witnessed wild birds of a feather, weasels (literally!) and poachers mingling with diseased beasts at Universal Ostrich. This behavior apparently goes directly against publicized quarantine procedures.
A representative from the CFIA underscored the danger, noting that the disease spreads rapidly to other avian species. They included that one positive case of H5 avian influenza in a lab is sufficient for declaring a premises infected.
On December 30, 2024, scientists gathered duplicate samples from two dead ostriches. Their tests found avian flu at Universal Ostrich, though it took a couple trials to get the confirmation. Their discovery prompted heightened oversight of the farm’s conduct. The recent death of a second ostrich has raised serious alarm. This week, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced it is starting an investigation. The RCMP are now investigating a second incident, that of an ostrich shot on March 21.
Katie Pasitney, a local resident involved in the investigation, noted that the second ostrich displayed “a clear entry wound and a clear exit wound,” which has fueled suspicions about the circumstances surrounding its death.
The CFIA has repeatedly stressed that its policies are crucial for fulfilling Canada’s international treaty obligations related to disease control. The agency is working to keep the avian flu from mutating and going human-to-human. Their work is instrumental in protecting animals and people alike from more dangerous consequences.
“Operational plans and dates for the humane depopulation will not be shared with the public in advance,” the CFIA added, indicating that measures will be taken without prior public notification to ensure biosecurity.
As the investigation continues, Universal Ostrich has committed to fully cooperating with both the CFIA and RCMP. The megafarm has turned into a polarizing front line in the fight between animal rights defenders and public health officials. Supporters of Universal Ostrich contend that the culling would be more than necessary. In doing so, they feel it would severely damage animal welfare and their local agriculture.
