US EditionFederal judge says cull of 400 ostriches at B.C. farm hit by avian flu can proceed
- A Federal Court judge dismissed a challenge on May 13, 2025, that sought to stop the culling of about 400 ostriches on a farm in British Columbia due to avian flu.
- The issue emerged after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mandated the destruction of birds in late 2024, following a widespread avian influenza outbreak that started in spring 2022 and impacted numerous farms across British Columbia.
- The farm owners argued the surviving ostriches had recovered, were healthy, and might have developed herd immunity to help fight the disease, but the court could not consider this new evidence.
- Justice Russel W. Zinn upheld the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s actions as justified and conducted with proper procedure, highlighting that courts typically refrain from intervening in scientific matters and defer to the expertise of administrative bodies.
- The ruling means the cull will proceed, with the farm ordered to pay $15,000 legal costs, highlighting the tension between individual losses and broader public health needs to control avian flu.
62 Articles
62 Articles
Prince George Citizen
B.C. district wants avian flu testing on ostriches facing cull
The Regional District of Central Kootenay says it will ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to conduct further testing for avian flu on a flock of ostriches facing a cull, before the region's landfill accepts the carcasses.
Supporters converge on B.C. ostrich farm to block cull of 400 birds
Operators of a B.C. ostrich farm where 400 birds have been ordered culled said Wednesday that dozens of supporters have arrived, as the federal agency in charge of the operation confirmed it would begin killing the animals.
Owner urges supporters to ‘surround’ B.C. ostrich farm as cull of 400 birds looms
The family operating the British Columbia ostrich farm where 400 birds have been ordered culled say about 40 supporters have arrived on scene in anticipation of a possible showdown with federal authorities.
Winnipeg Free Press
Owner urges supporters to 'surround' B.C. ostrich farm as cull of 400 birds looms
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
Canada Greenlights Mass Culling of 400 Research Ostriches Despite Full Recovery from Bird Flu Months Ago
Nicolas Hulscher, MPH Federal court upholds CFIA’s reckless cull order—setting a dangerous precedent for the unscientific mass depopulation of genetically important animals. In March, I interviewed Katie Pasitney of Universal Ostrich and Connie Shields to discuss the alarming implications of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) order to cull 400 research ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm in British Columbia over bird flu: Canada Orders…
Federal Judge Says Cull of 400 Ostriches at BC Farm Hit by Avian Flu Can Proceed
A Federal Court judge has tossed out a challenge that would have stopped the killing of about 400 ostriches on a British Columbia farm that suffered an outbreak of avian flu. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered the cull late last year after the flu outbreak, but the court granted a stay in January pending a judicial review. The family that owns Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood in southeastern B.C. has said the birds should be saved bec…
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