Ostrich Farmers speak out, were arrested for trying to feed their birds

The farmers face ‘obstruction’ charges under the Animal Health Act.

| September 26, 2025 | News | 1 Comment

Go Ad Free

Rebel News was in Edgewood, B.C., as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and RCMP enforced a cull order at Universal Ostrich Farms. Despite 395 living ostriches never being tested for avian flu, the agency moved to kill the flock based on two PCR tests from dead carcasses in December.

BREAKING OSTRICH FARM THREAD!

Cull of is imminent. Power is out

Police & CFIA contractors to cull 400 healthy ostriches are here at Universal Ostrich Farms.

*note: no data in certain areas so there will be upload delays.

Support & Share our Coverage at https://t.co/ziF2wnLm2P pic.twitter.com/hXj7kqnoYE
— Drea Humphrey (@DreaHumphrey) September 22, 2025

Farm co-owner Karen Espersen and her daughter, Katie Pasitney, were arrested inside the pens after pleading to feed their birds. They claim officials agreed as a sting operation to facilitate their arrest and removal.

Co-owner Dave Bilinski, who happened to be outside of the pens at the time, was not taken into custody.

Supporters were outraged as RCMP escorted the farmers away. Rebel News captured aerial footage of the hidden CFIA command station with a local's help. It was tucked away behind a line of trees — a setup hidden from sight at ground level.

OSTRICH FARM VS. CFIA STAND OFF THREAD DAY 5 SEPT 26.

The ostriches are healthy and asymptomatic 255 days.

CFIA’s cull order remains temporarily paused due to an interim stay however the agency still has Hoover the herd and pens.

Farmers invite supporters to come camp /… pic.twitter.com/7DM3SFjjVu
— Drea Humphrey (@DreaHumphrey) September 26, 2025

Pasitney and her mother face charges under Section 35(1) of the federal Animal Health Act for obstructing inspectors. Their defence lawyer, Umar Sheikh, is crowdfunded by supporters.

Sheikh's intervention this week secured an interim stay from the Supreme Court of Canada, temporarily halting the slaughter. The CFIA remains on-site, only caring for birds, not culling.

The farm's lawyer must reply to the CFIA by Monday. Afterward, a Supreme Court judge will decide on a longer pause for a full hearing.

For months, our team has been on the ground at Universal Ostrich Farms, documenting every step of this tragedy — from the first ominous signs of federal overreach to the night nearly a thousand shots rang out, leaving a field of hundreds of dead ostriches and a family shattered.

Our journalists confronted the RCMP, pressed CFIA officials, launched drones to reveal the truth, and refused to be intimidated or silenced.

But holding powerful institutions to account takes resources: travel, security, legal access, and the manpower of an around-the-clock reporting team.

If you believe in independent journalism that asks the tough questions the establishment won’t touch, please chip in to help us keep digging.

Drea Humphrey

B.C. Bureau Chief

Based in British Columbia, Drea Humphrey reports on Western Canada for Rebel News. Drea’s reporting is not afraid to challenge political correctness, or ask the tough questions that mainstream media tends to avoid.

Go Ad Free