According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ostritch Farm in British Columbia is the flash point for the avian flu outbreak and is “not collaborating” with authorities to manage the outbreak.
Universal Ostrich Farm “failed to implement appropriate biosecurity risk mitigation measures,” the CFIA alleged in a statement.
The CFIA previously ordered the entire farm flock to be culmed following the December bird flu outbreak. The outbreak is believed to have come from a herd of ducks that have migrated to the farm.
Nearly 70 ostriches died as a result of the outbreak.
The agency said in a statement that the farm was unable to report the first cases of diseases and deaths between birds to the CFIA and failed to comply with the quarantine order.
They also did not take measures such as restricting bird access to wild birds, controlling the flow of water from the isolation zone to other parts of the farm, or improving fencing, the CFIA said.
“These behaviors significantly increase the risk of infection with the disease and reflect a ignorance of regulatory compliance and animal health standards,” the statement said.
The farm said birds are part of a programme that researches antibody production against the avian influenza pandemic.
The farm said the farm “does not demonstrate scientific research claims. The CFIA has no evidence that scientific research is being conducted in the affected facility.”
Get weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information provided every Sunday.
“The research document was not provided during the review of requests for exemption from a disposition order based on its own genetics or during the judicial review process,” the statement said.
“In addition, the current physical facilities at that location are not suitable for managed research activities or testing.”
Earlier this month, a federal court judge rejected the farm's bid for a judicial review of a Canadian Food Inspection Service order to kill flocks last year after the farm's outbreak of avian flu.
BC Prime Minister David Ebby says the province is unhappy with the actions of Canadian food testing agencies and is unable to assess it on a case-by-case basis while understanding the need to contain avian flu.
“We hope that the federal government will look very carefully at the appropriate compensation to ensure the whole thing. We cannot fill it out because of the massive losses they saw,” Ebby said at a press conference on another event.
Trend now
Trump says he's doubled steel and doubled aluminum tariffs from next week to 50%
What Canada's GDP growth means future interest rate decisions
The federal court ruling said families could be compensated up to $3,000 for each bird.
There are more videos in Canada
The farm has earned international headlines and has received offers of support from US health staff and TV personality doctors who offered to move the flock to the United States.
However, Katie Pacitney, whose parents own the farm, said she is not interested in the movement of the herd, but they are grateful for their support.
Oz is the second health official in the administration of President Donald Trump after US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. intervened last week in the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Pasitney spoke with Oz Monday and said he cited him as reviewing the New York Post report and saying he had offered to relocate about 400 ostriches to the ranch.
“We're not considering transporting ostriches everywhere, but I think it's a growing support across America to see what the message is,” she said.
“Even people like Dr. Oz want to see these animals alive. We'll even offer his 900-acre ranch in Florida.”
Over the long weekend of Victoria Day, supporters gathered at the farm and opposed the cul. In a video message posted to Facebook, Pacitony's mother Karen urged supporters to “surround the farm” and “don't let these beautiful animals do this.”
The CFIA has not made any statements about when or how they will be expelled.
– Includes files from Canadian press
&Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.