On Thursday, over 300 ostriches were culled at Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. – an ostrich farm located in the remote town of Edgewood, British Columbia that has been operational for over three decades.

The ostriches – first ordered to be culled late last year – and the farm have garnered significant support from animal rights activists and sympathetic Canadians across the country over the course of its 10-months-long legal battle.

Timeline

Early December 2024

Universal Ostrich Farms reported an outbreak of respiratory symptoms among its ostrich flock shortly after its exposure to wild ducks. According to court documents, approximately 25 to 30 ostriches died within a three-week period.

December 28, 2024

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency intervened, following an anonymous report of multiple ostrich deaths on the premises of Universal Ostrich Farms. The agency imposed a quarantine order on the premises.

December 29, 2024

Universal Ostrich Farms requested a veterinarian from the CFIA assess the flock for avian influenza or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Four additional birds died on this day.

December 30, 2024

CFIA inspectors visited the premises and collected samples from two birds that had passed for lab testing. The farm says the CFIA denied its requests to take samples from their healthy ostriches as well. On this day, the Agency sent a Declaration of Infected Place to the farm – which was intended to prevent access to infected birds, carcasses, and other potentially contaminated areas from wildlife, other animals, and people.

December 31, 2024

The Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network lab in Abbotsford, B.C. reported positive test results for a subtype of the avian influenza. Following the confirmation, the CFIA issued the Notice to Dispose to the farm, with a deadline of February 1, 2025 to “dispose of all affected birds and related materials”.

January 2, 2025

According to court documents, in a phone conversation with the CFIA officer assigned to the case, the farm owners floated the idea that the older ostriches on the farm may have developed herd immunity (the farm had seen a similar “flu-like” illness among the flock before) and sought an exemption from depopulation.

January 10, 2025

CIFA issued the Exemption Denial – stating the farm had failed to demonstrate there were any ostriches free from risk of exposure to the avian flu.

Late January, 2025

The farm alleged that the last death occurred on January 15, and requested the CFIA conduct additional tests on apparently healthy ostriches to find out whether they were shedding flue virus. Records indicate further testing was not approved by the agency at this point.

January 21, 2025

The farm hosted an emergency meeting with leaders from the Edgewood community, launching the ‘Universal Ostrich Farms’ campaign, mobilizing people to gather at the farm ahead of a scheduled CFIA inspection.

January 31, 2025

The farm requested a judicial review to halt the CFIA from enforcing its Notice to Dispose and the Requirement to Quarantine. 

May 13, 2025

The Federal Court dismissed the farm’s application for judicial review and awarded the agency $15,000 – a price tag of costs both parties had agreed to. The farm appealed the decision made on this day.

May 14, 2025

The CFIA announced it will “begin the humane depopulation and disposal of birds at the infected premises with veterinary oversight” adding that the “operational plans and dates will not be shared with the public in advance”.

August 21, 2025

Following an expedited judicial review, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Federal Court of Canada and dismissed the farm’s applications. In the judicial decision, the judge wrote, “We recognize that our decision might lead to the death of over 400 ostriches owned by the [farm], an outcome that would doubtless be very difficult, both financially and emotionally. … While we have considerable sympathy for them, the law we are bound to apply inevitably leads to the conclusion that [the farm’s] appeal must be dismissed.” The farm appealed again.

September 23, 2025

The CFIA was granted a search warrant for Universal Ostrich Farm. The agency requested the RCMP join them in order to “keep the peace and enforce the law while their agents conduct their lawful authority to search the property”. On this day, two individuals were arrested for “obstructing CFIA agents from performing their duties”. 

September 24, 2025

The Supreme Court of Canada granted a temporary stay pending the farm’s appeal – to which the CFIA announced it will comply. As per SCC orders, the agency maintained control of the farm and the custody of the birds at this time. 

November 6, 2025

The SCC dismissed the farm’s appeal. CFIA announced it will be “moving forward to complete depopulation and disposal measures”.

November 7, 2025

The CFIA announced it has “culled the ostrich population” on Universal Ostrich Farm with “professional marksmen in a controlled on-farm setting … under CFIA veterinary supervision”.

Reactions

Footage from the culling have been circulating online – prompting public outcry and sympathy.

“A family lost their livelihood. I now have zero respect for the RCMP, CFIA, Liberals, CPC, and the general public who ignored the Ostriches. I hold my head down in shame as a Canadian right now,” one X user wrote.

“All Ostriches were slaughtered last night under the cover of darkness by RCMP officers with rifles. How many shots did it take to kill each healthy Ostrich? This was barbaric and inhumane,” another wrote.

“I may not agree with how everything has been handled by the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms however as an animal lover, this is devastating to watch,” another wrote.

“Cruel, petty, sadistic, international embarrassment. The great Canadian ostrich slaughter. Our international reputation is destroyed at this point,” another wrote.

Those outside of Canada are also reacting, as the news made headlines across the world.

“Watching what happened up in Canada to the ostrich farm has been horrific. I can’t think of how people who work for the RCMP can even justify themselves being there. The blood is on their hands. We in America see it,” one X user wrote.

“This ostrich story in Canada is making my blood boil in a way that it hasn’t in a while,” another X user wrote.

“That ostrich slaughter frequency woke me from a dead sleep all the way here in Mexico,” another wrote.

Among the reactions were also those who were in support of the CFIA’s decisions.

“On behalf of all Canadians I would like to thank the CFIA, the RCMP and the courts for shutting down this ridiculous circus and doing their jobs to keep our poultry industry safe from disease,” one X user wrote.

An official vigil for the ostriches will be held in front of the CFIA office in Prince George, B.C. on Friday, November 14th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.