Businesses Caught in Crossfire as Ostrich Cull Sparks Harassment, Threats in B.C.

The battle over an ostrich farm in southeastern B.C. has spilled into the wider community, with local businesses now reporting harassment and threats tied to the government’s cull order.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the slaughter of roughly 400 birds at Universal Ostrich near Edgewood after avian flu was detected in the flock last December. But as officials moved in this week with a police escort, tensions escalated beyond the farm itself.

Supporters of the farm, led in part by spokesperson Katie Pasitney, have posted online urging people to flood the phone lines of businesses they believe are working with the CFIA. Phone numbers for hotels, gas stations, and waste companies have circulated online, leading to review-bombing campaigns and angry calls.

Some of the companies say they have no role in the cull. Nucor Environmental Solutions, for example, posted a statement saying it has been falsely linked to the operation and that its staff—and their families—have been hit with false accusations and death threats. Clearway Trucks, another targeted firm, said it had “no prior knowledge” its vehicles might be used and demanded their trucks be returned.

The B.C. SPCA clarified it has no authority to intervene in cases where avian flu is involved. Meanwhile, RCMP confirmed they are investigating reports of “threats, intimidation and harassment” tied to the dispute.

Two people—Pasitney and her mother, farm co-owner Karen Espersen—were arrested and released this week as the CFIA prepared to carry out the cull. The standoff has attracted international attention, even drawing comments from former members of the Trump administration, and has fueled months of protests in the small community.

For locals, the drawn-out fight has taken a toll. Resident Randy Donselaar told CBC the town has seen repeated confrontations between protesters and residents. “When they don’t get a favourable response, they immediately get argumentative,” he said.

As the cull moves forward, police say they are monitoring tensions closely and will act against anyone who threatens public safety.