The tension between hundreds of protesters, RCMP officers and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) workers has come to a standstill after the Supreme Court of Canada issued a temporary stay of an order to kill more than 300 ostriches at a farm in the remote B.C. Interior community of Edgewood, about 95 kilometres east of Kelowna.
The court ordered the stay on Wednesday as the CFIA was setting up to carry out a cull order, after avian flu was discovered in the flock in December 2024 and killed several dozen birds.
All action at the Universal Ostrich Farms is now gridlocked, awaiting the court’s decision.
The complex story of how the farm’s owners have fought for the lives of their ostriches has generated international attention over things like Canada’s avian influenza management protocols and claims of government overreach — compounded by the unique scenario of the outbreak and the animals’ survival.
Here are the answers to some questions our readers have been asking.
If you’re looking for more detailed answers, CBC News also has an in-depth explainer.
Wait, there’s an ostrich farm in B.C.?
There are actually several ostrich farms located across the province. Ostriches are considered poultry by the B.C. government.
The Universal farm, run by business partners Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, began as a meat-sale operation more than 30 years ago, selling ostrich meat, eggs and oil.
A last-minute reprieve for the ostriches of Edgewood, B.C., has left the fate of the birds in limbo. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency remains in control at the farm, with the farm’s supporters holding out hope that the Supreme Court of Canada will decide to hear the case. CBC’s Brady Strachan explains how we got here and some of the reasoning from both sides.
The farm’s website says it moved away from that industry and now focuses on breeding, tourism and research. The timeline of this transition is unclear.
CFIA says the farm has not provided any documentation outlining the research it claims to carry out. It also says the farm lacks facilities “suitable for controlled research activity or trials.”
Dr. Scott Weese, a professor, researcher and veterinarian from the University of Guelph in Ontario, told CBC News he has not found any evidence the farm has received formal research or scientific animal care approval from a recognized regulatory body.
What is avian flu and how did the ostriches become infected?
Avian flu, also known as H5N1, is a respiratory illness that is largely transmitted through wild birds. According to the U.S. Centre for Disease Control, the disease can also spread to mammals, including wild animals, livestock and humans.
The farm said it had 450 ostriches at the beginning of December 2024.
Weeks later, a flock of wild ducks landed in the ostrich’s open air enclosure. In the days and weeks that followed, 69 of the farm’s youngest birds died after contracting a respiratory infection, said the CFIA.
An anonymous source reported the deaths to the CFIA, as the farm did not self-report. CFIA then imposed a quarantine order and visited the farm to collect samples from two of the dead birds.
On Dec. 31, Universal was told the tests for avian flu were positive, and an order to cull the remaining flock was issued.
What is a cull order and why would the surviving ostriches be killed?
CFIA says it takes the management of avian flu seriously in order to keep humans and wild and domestic animals safe — as well as the country’s $6.8-billion poultry industry and international trade relations.
CFIA employs the “stamping out” policy outlined by the World Organization for Animal Health, which requires all animals in a flock to be killed, even if H5N1 is detected in just one bird.
The killing of a farm’s livestock in response to a disease is called a cull. In commercial operations, owners of livestock — including cattle, swine and poultry — are eligible for compensation for the cost of the animal and associated expenses.
Countries that do not comply with internationally recognized biosecurity standards may be prohibited from engaging in commercial trade of animal products.
Countries and provinces regularly ban the import of poultry products from jurisdictions facing avian flu outbreaks. Nine regions in Canada, including B.C., are currently subject to such sanctions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meaning poultry and avian products or byproducts originating from restriction zones cannot be imported into the U.S.
In 2025, millions of domestic birds from farms across Canada were killed as part of cull orders from the CFIA, in accordance with the criteria for avian flu outlined by the World Organization for Animal Health.
Culls are typically carried out by farmers themselves or by hired contractors. When a cull order is not followed, the CFIA will step in to execute the order.
CFIA lists compensation of $3,000 per ostrich, but warns
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