Residents Near B.C. Ostrich Farm Express Frustration Amid Avian Flu Battle

Residents living near the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, British Columbia, are voicing their frustrations as the farm’s owners continue to contest an avian flu cull ordered by health authorities. For the past eight months, neighbours have reported feeling ignored by local elected officials while grappling with the uncertainty surrounding the health of their livestock. The situation has escalated, drawing national attention and protests from various corners of the province.

The cull was initiated in December 2022 after several birds at the farm tested positive for avian influenza. At that time, 69 ostriches died, while nearly 400 others survived. The farm has been actively fighting to preserve the remaining ostriches, claiming that their flock is healthy. “We have had no illness and no deaths on our farm for 223 days. They are thriving. Our herd of ostriches is a living vault of immunity,” said Katie Pasitney, the farm’s spokesperson.

Concerns have been raised by local farmers, particularly Jim and Millie McFarlane, who fear that their cattle could be at risk due to their proximity to the farm. “So, when fall comes and we ship our cattle to market, is that going to be a factor in the price that we get for our cattle?” Millie McFarlane questioned. In response, Pasitney dismissed their concerns, stating, “Linking our fight to protect ostriches with cattle price fluctuations is misleading.”

Political Responses and Community Discontent

Frustration among the community is compounded by a perceived lack of support from their elected representatives. On August 21, 2023, Scott Anderson, the Conservative MP for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee, released a statement following the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)’s cull order. While Anderson expressed disappointment with the CFIA’s approach, he acknowledged the conflicting opinions within the community regarding the cull.

Residents like Randy Donselaar feel that Anderson has not adequately represented their concerns. “He is not representing the voice of our community… and I think he’s either blind to that or he doesn’t care,” Donselaar stated. This sentiment reflects a broader discontent among residents who feel their interests are overlooked in the ongoing dispute.

The situation has also attracted outside attention, including from U.S. television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has offered to relocate the ostriches to his ranch in Florida. This involvement has sparked additional frustration among locals, with Soroka commenting, “It really bothers me that the Americans are involved.”

Public Health Concerns and Ongoing Legal Battles

The ongoing legal battle surrounding the farm has shifted from a specific issue of animal welfare to a broader discussion about public health and regulatory practices. Virologist Angela Rasmussen from the University of Saskatchewan supports the CFIA’s decision, arguing that the offer to import the ostriches undermines public health regulations. She noted that “there has really been a full-scale attack on American public health practices and policies.”

Pasitney has emphasized that the farm’s health status contradicts the CFIA’s stance, asserting, “This battle has dragged on for months not because of any ongoing risk to public health or safety. Our ostriches have been healthy the entire time.” She urges locals to engage with the CFIA for a better policy response to alleviate their concerns.

The CFIA maintains that despite the ostriches appearing healthy, they could still carry and spread the virus, raising the risk of mutation and transmission, particularly to mammals. The agency has stated, “Ostriches are known to spontaneously develop mutations, making the virus more infectious to mammalian species.”

As the legal and health disputes continue to unfold, the future of the Universal Ostrich Farm and its remaining birds hangs in the balance, with residents anxiously awaiting a resolution that prioritizes both public health and their community’s well-being.