Tense Standoff at Ostrich Farm
The fight between B.C. ostrich farm owners and federal officials over an avian flu cull reached a breaking point this week. On Tuesday, RCMP arrested and later released farm co-owners Karen Espersen and her daughter Katie Pasitney after they refused to leave their birds in Edgewood, a small community east of Kelowna.
The pair, who operate Universal Ostrich, have been locked in a ten-month battle with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which ordered the destruction of roughly 400 ostriches following an outbreak last year.
Why the Arrests Happened
RCMP confirmed that two individuals were taken into custody for obstructing CFIA officers from carrying out their duties. Videos posted online show tense exchanges as officers warned Espersen and Pasitney they would be removed if they stayed inside the birds’ enclosure.
“They knew this was going to be the next stage,” one RCMP officer is heard saying in a Facebook video. Both women were released after signing conditions that prevent them from returning to the farm.
CFIA Takes Control of Property
With RCMP backing, the CFIA served a warrant Monday, officially taking control of the property. The agency argues the surviving ostriches still pose a risk because the strain of avian influenza detected in December 2024 was lethal. That outbreak killed 69 birds.
Supporters gathered at the site pleaded with officers to “have a heart,” while some shouted that “the world is watching.” Videos show hay bales stacked three metres high around the property, though officials have not confirmed why the barrier was built or when the cull will begin.
Legal Battles and Scientific Questions
Espersen and Pasitney have fought the cull in multiple courts, insisting their birds are healthy and potentially valuable for scientific research. They argue the CFIA should allow new testing, but the agency maintains its policy does not permit further checks.
Court filings from CFIA state that immunity in ostriches is poorly understood and that environmental sources of reinfection remain possible long after birds recover. Despite this, the farmers say they will push the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Mounting Pressure on Businesses
The conflict has spilled beyond the farm. Businesses linked to CFIA’s operation have faced public backlash, with one rental company pulling vehicles after learning they were contracted for the cull. Pasitney has urged supporters online to call hotels, fuel suppliers, and other companies to withdraw support.
RCMP say local businesses have reported harassment and threats connected to the controversy. “We will take steps to ensure those who unlawfully interfere with or threaten safety are held accountable,” police said in a statement.
What Happens Next
For now, the 400 ostriches remain alive inside the farm’s enclosures, surrounded by officials in protective suits. The CFIA has not revealed how or when the cull will take place, nor how the birds’ remains will be disposed of, after local landfills rejected the possibility.
The situation remains tense, with supporters calling the birds’ destruction unnecessary while federal officials insist the cull is essential to protect public health and Canada’s food supply chain.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for ongoing updates on the B.C. ostrich farm standoff and avian flu response.
