Edgewood, British Columbia — Financial troubles are mounting for Universal Ostrich Farms Inc., a high-profile ostrich farm in southeastern B.C., as creditors attempt to intercept potential Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) compensation tied to a possible cull of more than 300 birds due to avian flu.
The CFIA ordered the destruction of the flock last December after detecting the virus, but the farm’s owners—Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski—are fighting the decision in court. As the Supreme Court of Canada reviews their appeal, creditors are seeking court orders to garnishee any government payouts if the cull proceeds.
“It’s a very unique situation,” said lawyer Steven Cope, representing two Fort St. John businessmen who secured a $140,000 judgment against Universal Ostrich Farms. “The only assets they have are two-legged animals under quarantine facing a death penalty.”
A Farm in Legal and Financial Turmoil
Court filings show Universal Ostrich Farms owes more than $250,000 to multiple creditors. Despite judgments in their favour, lenders say they’ve received little or no repayment. Cope confirmed his clients have already garnisheed the farm’s bank accounts, which were empty, and served legal notice to the CFIA—though the agency says no compensation is yet due.
Farm owners Espersen and Bilinski insist the financial disputes are separate from their legal battle with the CFIA.
“These civil matters are unrelated to the CFIA’s actions,” the pair said in an email. “All funds raised are used transparently toward legal costs and the care of the ostriches during quarantine.”
Their website shows nearly 2,000 donors contributing over $131,000 toward a goal of $200,000 to fund the farm’s legal defence and animal care.
Lawsuits and Unpaid Debts
One creditor, Rudi George, along with Roman Stadler, sued Universal in 2023 after supplying $126,399 worth of ostriches but receiving only $5,000 in return. Another, David Goranson, loaned $60,000 to fund expansion, later obtaining a judgment for more than $80,000 when the debt went unpaid. A third, Ariton Talica, who invested in six breeding ostriches in 2017, says he also plans to garnishee the CFIA after securing a $30,677 judgment.
“If the government doesn’t kill the birds, the creditors will,” Talica said. “They’re going to be slaughtered anyway—they’re not being raised as pets.”
Avian Flu, Research Claims, and Court Tensions
In their filings, Espersen and Bilinski argue that destroying the flock would cause severe economic harm, claiming their operations shifted from meat and tourism toward scientific research on ostrich antibodies with a Japanese collaborator known as Dr. Ostrich.
However, CFIA countered that the farm offered no proof of a profitable antibody business, calling the claims “speculative.” The appeal court nonetheless recognized that a full cull could cause serious financial loss.
Under the Health of Animals Act, farms may be compensated up to $3,000 per bird, but only if they comply with CFIA directives. For now, both sides—and the creditors—are waiting on the Supreme Court’s decision that will determine whether the ostriches live or die, and who, if anyone, gets paid.
