Protesters opposed to agency-ordered cull at ostrich farm prepare for long-term stay

Protesters who have been camping at a British Columbia ostrich farm that's been ordered to kill its entire flock because of bird flu say they're preparing to stay longer.

Protesters who have been camping this weekend at a British Columbia ostrich farm that’s been ordered to kill its entire flock because of bird flu say they’re preparing to stay longer.

Universal Ostrich Farm, in Edgewood, B.C., has been battling with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency over the cull of 399 birds after the farm lost its court battle to save the birds.

One of the protesters, Jim Kerr, says more than 200 people showed up on Saturday to oppose the cull, and the plan at this moment is to stay “peaceful, loving, and lawful.”

But Kerr says that doesn’t mean they will make it easy for the authorities if they come by, saying the group intends to “slow them down” or catch them doing anything that would be “deemed to be against the law.”

The Regional District of Central Kootenay passed a resolution Thursday not to allow the CFIA to dispose of ostrich carcasses in its landfills pending further testing of the birds for avian flu, which some opponents of the cull have interpreted to mean carcasses will be rejected unless they test positive.

The CFIA says it’s aware of the regional district’s motion, but the cull will still proceed with veterinary oversight, although operation dates and plans will not be shared with the public in advance.

The agency ordered the birds destroyed in December after avian flu was found on the farm and a Federal Court ruled to uphold the decision last week. More than 8.7 million birds have been culled in British Columbia since a highly infectious form of the avian flu showed up on farms starting in the spring of 2022.

Aidan McLaren-Caux, a board vice-chair with the Regional District of Central Kootenay, has said if the birds get tested and are found to be well, the hope is that the cull order will be rescinded.