BBC News

Canada's top court halts execution of nearly 400 ostriches, for now

Toronto Star

Interim stay of cull order turns despair to joy on B.C. ostrich farm

Supreme Court of Canada grants stay in the case of B.C. ostrich cull

Guardian

Canada: order to cull over 400 ostriches sparks protests and death threats

The Globe and Mail

Supreme Court temporarily halts cull of B.C. ostriches

Global News

B.C. ostrich cull: Stay granted as hay-bale wall burned by fire

Supreme Court of Canada

Universal Ostrich Farm stay order

DreaHumphrey

CTVNews

SheilaGunnReid

Rebel News

Ostrich_Farm_Receives_Temporary_Stay_Seeks_Supreme_Court_Hearing

Canlii

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The Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday issued a stay of execution for nearly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, temporarily halting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) planned cull while the owners appeal the decision.

The Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday issued a stay of execution for nearly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, temporarily halting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) planned cull while the owners appeal the decision.

The CFIA ordered the birds to be culled in December after an avian flu outbreak killed 69 ostriches on the farm, saying that allowing exposed birds to remain alive increases mutation risks and that the cull follows a WHO-backed “stamping out” policy.

The CFIA ordered the birds to be culled in December after an avian flu outbreak killed 69 ostriches on the farm, saying that allowing exposed birds to remain alive increases mutation risks and that the cull follows a WHO-backed “stamping out” policy.

Farm owners Katie Pasitney and Karen Espersen were arrested by police on Tuesday for allegedly obstructing food inspection agents from performing their duties. They were later released while being prohibited from entering the birds' enclosure.

National Post

Farm owners Katie Pasitney and Karen Espersen were arrested by police on Tuesday for allegedly obstructing food inspection agents from performing their duties. They were later released while being prohibited from entering the birds' enclosure.

The case has attracted international attention from senior U.S. officials including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/us-officials-join-fight-to-save-canadian-ostriches-from-cull">offered to relocate the birds to his Florida ranch</a>. Universal Ostrich Farms ultimately rejected the offer.

The case has attracted international attention from senior U.S. officials including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who offered to relocate the birds to his Florida ranch. Universal Ostrich Farms ultimately rejected the offer.

Police say emergency crews were called to the farm shortly before 4 a.m. local time Wednesday after hay bales used to build enclosures were found engulfed in flames and smoke. The fire, which police are deeming suspicious, was extinguished after several hours and remains under investigation.

Police say emergency crews were called to the farm shortly before 4 a.m. local time Wednesday after hay bales used to build enclosures were found engulfed in flames and smoke. The fire, which police are deeming suspicious, was extinguished after several hours and remains under investigation.

As part of the court's ruling, Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin ordered that the CFIA must maintain custody of the birds and provide appropriate feed and water with veterinary oversight, while the agency must file its response to the appeal by October 3.

As part of the court's ruling, Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin ordered that the CFIA must maintain custody of the birds and provide appropriate feed and water with veterinary oversight, while the agency must file its response to the appeal by October 3.

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The Supreme Court of Canada issued a stay of execution for nearly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, temporarily halting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) planned cull while the owners appeal the decision.

The Supreme Court of Canada issued a stay of execution for nearly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, temporarily halting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) planned cull while the owners appeal the decision.

National Post #

Government overreach has reached dangerous levels as Canadian authorities threaten to massacre 400 healthy ostriches that have shown no symptoms for over 250 days. Officials refuse retesting and arrest farmers defending their property, while anti-science bureaucrats ignore that these birds produce valuable therapeutic antibodies for virus research.

Government overreach has reached dangerous levels as Canadian authorities threaten to massacre 400 healthy ostriches that have shown no symptoms for over 250 days. Officials refuse retesting and arrest farmers defending their property, while anti-science bureaucrats ignore that these birds produce valuable therapeutic antibodies for virus research.</span

Death threats and harassment campaigns targeting local businesses show how dangerous misinformation becomes when amplified by political opportunists. Federal health officials are following established WHO protocols to prevent avian flu spread, as a federal judge confirmed the cull order protects both animal and human health from a serious disease outbreak.

Death threats and harassment campaigns targeting local businesses show how dangerous misinformation becomes when amplified by political opportunists. Federal health officials are following established WHO protocols to prevent avian flu spread, as a federal judge confirmed the cull order protects both animal and human health from a serious disease outbreak.</span

Supreme Court Halts Cull of 400 Ostriches After Avian Flu

Canada

Court system

Infectious diseases

The Supreme Court stay has rightly spared 400 ostriches from a reckless CFIA cull, as the birds have been healthy and symptom-free for 253 days. Even after draining the pond that drew in infected ducks, farmers face an agency refusing retesting and enforcing a WHO-backed “stamping out” policy that tramples OIE guidelines. This is government overreach at its worst — ignoring science, property rights, and the birds’ vital role in producing therapeutic antibodies.

The Supreme Court stay has rightly spared 400 ostriches from a reckless CFIA cull, as the birds have been healthy and symptom-free for 253 days. Even after draining the pond that drew in infected ducks, farmers face an agency refusing retesting and enforcing a WHO-backed “stamping out” policy that tramples OIE guidelines. This is government overreach at its worst — ignoring science, property rights, and the birds’ vital role in producing therapeutic antibodies.

The Supreme Court’s stay may pause the cull, but it does not erase the danger. H5N1 is a deadly, highly contagious virus that can jump from birds to humans, and Canada’s “stamping out” policy — based on WHO standards and vital for trade — is essential to prevent its spread. Activists and Trump-aligned agitators are fueling harassment and death threats, undermining trust in public health while ignoring that exposed ostriches can silently shed virus and mutate it into new threats.

The Supreme Court’s stay may pause the cull, but it does not erase the danger. H5N1 is a deadly, highly contagious virus that can jump from birds to humans, and Canada’s “stamping out” policy — based on WHO standards and vital for trade — is essential to prevent its spread. Activists and Trump-aligned agitators are fueling harassment and death threats, undermining trust in public health while ignoring that exposed ostriches can silently shed virus and mutate it into new threats.

Supreme Court Halts Cull of 400 Ostriches After Avian Flu

Supreme Court Halts Cull of 400 Ostriches After Avian Flu

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Supreme Court Halts Cull of 400 Ostriches After Avian Flu

Supreme Court Halts Cull of 400 Ostriches After Avian Flu

The Spin

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