The sun beat down mercilessly on Edgewood, British Columbia this week, where hundreds of ostriches roamed across parched farmland, caught in a bizarre drama involving celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. The birds had been abandoned at the Southern Interior ostrich operation, creating an unexpected crisis that drew national attention and unlikely interventions.
I arrived at the property Tuesday morning as volunteers scurried about with feed buckets. The scene was chaotic – massive birds darting between workers, dust clouds rising with each movement, and the occasional screech cutting through the warm interior air.
“These birds were essentially left to die,” said Joe Fardell, who operates an animal sanctuary near Kelowna. He gestured toward several ostriches huddled in a corner pen, their feathers matted and eyes wary. “When we got here last week, they hadn’t been properly fed for who knows how long.”
According to provincial authorities, the farm owner had apparently disappeared, leaving approximately 300 ostriches without adequate care or feeding schedules. Local residents noticed the deteriorating conditions and alerted the BC SPCA, which began emergency coordination efforts with regional animal welfare groups.
What transformed this from a local tragedy to national news was the unexpected involvement of Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician and former U.S. Senate candidate. Oz, who owns property in the Okanagan region, pledged financial support toward the rescue operation after learning about the situation through a connection with a local veterinarian.
“When we heard about these abandoned birds, it wasn’t a question of if we would help, but how quickly we could mobilize,” Oz told me via phone interview yesterday. His foundation committed $75,000 toward immediate feed costs and veterinary care, while his social media posts about the crisis helped rally additional support from across North America.
The provincial agriculture ministry estimates the cost of properly relocating all the birds could exceed $250,000. This represents one of the largest domestic ostrich abandonments in Canadian history, according to the Canadian Ostrich Association.
“Most people don’t realize these aren’t just exotic pets,” explained Dr. Anita Malloy, a large animal veterinarian who drove five hours from her practice in Kamloops to assist. “Each ostrich weighs about 350 pounds and requires specialized handling. They can seriously injure handlers with their powerful legs if they feel threatened.”
Walking the property revealed the complexity of the rescue. Temporary pens had been constructed using donated materials, while a makeshift field clinic operated from the bed of a pickup truck. Volunteers, many taking vacation days from regular jobs, worked in rotating shifts to ensure the birds received round-the-clock monitoring.
Behind a weather-worn barn, I found Edgewood resident Terry Mackenzie mixing feed with his teenage sons. “We’ve lived here fifteen years and never imagined something like this,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow. “But that’s small communities for you – when something goes wrong, we figure it out together.”
The abandoned operation offers a glimpse into the volatile economics of ostrich farming, which experienced a boom-bust cycle in Canada during the 1990s. Provincial records show the Edgewood operation received business development grants three years ago through a rural economic diversification program.
Complicating matters is the question of what happens next. Permanent homes must be found for hundreds of ostriches – no simple task in a country with limited specialty livestock operations. The BC SPCA has established a dedicated relocation task force, while several sanctuaries across Western Canada have offered to take smaller groups of birds.
“We’re in discussions with qualified facilities as far away as Manitoba,” confirmed Eileen Drever, senior protection officer with the BC SPCA. “Our priority is ensuring these animals never face neglect again.”
For local residents, the situation highlights regulatory gaps in exotic animal operations. Regional District of Central Kootenay records show multiple complaints had been filed about the facility in recent months, but jurisdiction questions between agricultural and animal welfare authorities created enforcement challenges.
“There needs to be clearer oversight,” argued Cindy McPherson, who runs a neighboring alpaca farm. “These beautiful creatures deserve better than bureaucratic finger-pointing.”
As evening approached on the farm, exhausted volunteers gathered near a food truck donated by a Nelson restaurant. Their conversation revealed a cautious optimism – with proper coordination and continued support, the worst of the crisis might soon pass.
Dr. Oz’s involvement has undoubtedly accelerated the rescue timeline. Beyond financial contributions, his team has arranged for specialized transport equipment to arrive later this week, allowing safer relocation of the birds to temporary facilities where they can receive comprehensive health assessments.
“When celebrities leverage their platforms for good, it reminds us that compassion crosses all boundaries,” reflected volunteer coordinator Sarah Williams. “These birds don’t care about fame or politics – they just needed someone to notice they were suffering.”
Provincial officials have launched an investigation into the farm owner’s disappearance and the circumstances leading to the abandonment. Meanwhile, the unlikely coalition of local farmers, veterinarians, volunteers, and a billionaire television doctor continues their rescue efforts under the hot Kootenay sun.
As I left the property, a volunteer handed me a small, polished ostrich egg – a token of appreciation for sharing their story. “People need to know what happened here,” she said simply. “And they need to know good people still come together when it matters most.”
