The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the complete culling of all 330 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia. The mass euthanasia, which witnesses describe as involving hundreds of rifle shots over several hours, occurred overnight on November 6-7, 2025, shortly after the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the farm's final appeal.
Farm owners Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski are devastated, calling the event "the crime of the century" and "evil." They argue that the birds, some as old as 35, were not all tested for avian flu and question the necessity and brutality of their execution by gunfire.
A Heartbreaking Scene at Dawn
As the sun rose on Friday, November 7, drone footage and photographs revealed a grim scene. The bodies of the large flightless birds were seen strewn across a makeshift culling pen constructed with hay walls on the farm property. The imagery was stark, with tarpaulins covering some but not all of the carcasses.
Reporter Drea Humphrey of Rebel News captured and shared the aerial footage on social media platform X, stating, "It appears the CFIA slaughtered the entire flock of healthy ostriches through the night. This is a sad day for Canada." The visual evidence prompted widespread shock and comparisons to tragic historical events.
Questions Surrounding Method and Motive
The central controversy now revolves around the CFIA's methods and the lack of transparency. Key unanswered questions include:
- Why were rifles used for the mass culling instead of more controlled or humane methods?
- Will the CFIA conduct postmortem examinations (autopsies) on the birds to determine how many were actually infected with avian flu?
- What is the protocol for the disposal of the 330 ostrich bodies?
The farm had transitioned in recent years to research, studying the ostriches' antibodies for disease combat. Espersen lamented, "We lost them, but I don't think Canada understands what they lost." She emphasized that these were not anonymous livestock but named animals with distinct personalities.
A Call for Accountability and Justice
Local residents reported hearing hundreds of gunshots throughout the night, a sound described as horrifying. The farm's owners, supported by family and community members, are now demanding accountability from the CFIA and the federal government.
As of the morning of November 7, the CFIA had not yet released an official public statement confirming the details of the culling operation, though they have indicated one is forthcoming. For the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms, the immediate future is one of mourning. "Today we mourn," said Espersen, "but there will be justice." The field that once held a thriving flock has become, in the owners' words, "Slaughterhouse 330."
