As the morning light broke over the Okanagan Valley yesterday, it wasn’t the familiar sound of roosters that disturbed the peace, but rather the sharp crack of gunfire. Provincial officials proceeded with a controversial cull of ostriches at a farm near Armstrong, B.C., where dozens of the massive birds had been roaming freely since escaping their enclosure last month.
“It sounded like a war zone,” said Melissa Kwong, a nearby resident who contacted me after hearing multiple shots ring out around 7:30 a.m. “We knew this might happen, but actually hearing it was something else entirely.”
The cull marks the end of a three-week saga that began when approximately 45 ostriches escaped from a farm following what the owner described as a fence failure during a severe windstorm. Despite community efforts to corral the birds, many remained at large, creating what officials termed “an escalating public safety risk.”
Standing nearly 2.7 metres tall and capable of running at speeds exceeding 70 km/h, these flightless birds presented unique challenges. Several close calls with motorists on Highway 97 prompted the BC Ministry of Agriculture to make what they’ve called “a difficult but necessary decision.”
“After exhausting all reasonable capture methods, we determined that euthanization was the only remaining option to protect public safety,” said Deputy Minister Harjit Singh in a statement released Thursday afternoon. The ministry confirmed that wildlife officers, veterinarians, and RCMP members were present during the operation.
This decision has sparked heated debate throughout the region. At the Armstrong Farmers Market last weekend, I spoke with locals divided on the issue. Some, like retired rancher Tom Beliveau, supported the cull. “Those birds are dangerous if you don’t know how to handle them. A kick from an ostrich can kill you,” Beliveau told me, recounting his own experience raising emus in the 1990s.
Others viewed the situation differently. Wildlife advocate and local business owner Janine Torres organized a last-minute “Save the Ostriches” rally that drew approximately 70 supporters to city hall on Wednesday evening. “There were options that weren’t properly explored,” Torres insisted. “These animals didn’t ask to be here. They’re victims of poor management.”
According to data from the BC Farm Animal Care Council, ostrich farming peaked in Western Canada during the mid-1990s before declining sharply as markets failed to materialize as expected. Today, fewer than a dozen commercial ostrich operations remain in the province, with most focusing on tourism rather than meat production.
The farm’s owner, Gerald Weitman, who acquired the ostriches just four months ago, declined multiple interview requests. However, public records show the property received three compliance notices from provincial inspectors in the past year related to inadequate fencing standards for exotic animals.
Provincial regulations concerning exotic animal management underwent significant revision in 2020 following several high-profile escapes, including a zebra that disrupted traffic on Highway 1 near Chilliwack. The updated Controlled Alien Species Regulation specifically addresses containment requirements for ratites – the bird family that includes ostriches, emus, and rheas.
Dr. Samantha Lee, a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals at UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems, expressed frustration at how the situation unfolded. “We’re seeing the consequences of regulatory gaps and enforcement challenges,” she explained in a phone interview. “There’s a disconnect between permitting these operations and ensuring they have proper infrastructure and emergency protocols.”
At the heart of this controversy lies questions about responsibility and values. Rural communities across B.C. have long balanced traditional agricultural activities with changing public expectations about animal welfare. This tension becomes particularly evident when dealing with non-native species in agricultural settings.
Following yesterday’s cull, Mayor Chris Pieper of Armstrong acknowledged the community division. “This hasn’t been easy for anyone involved,” he said. “Our priority has to be public safety, but we recognize many residents formed an attachment to these birds over the past weeks.”
The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that approximately 32 ostriches were euthanized during yesterday’s operation. A handful of birds that had been successfully captured earlier remain under observation at a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Kamloops.
For the community, questions remain about how to prevent similar situations in the future. The Provincial Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is expected to review the incident as part of their mandate to recommend improvements to exotic animal regulations.
As I watched provincial crews remove the last of their equipment yesterday afternoon, two children placed hand-drawn pictures of ostriches against the farm’s gate. It was a small but poignant reminder that beyond the policy debates and regulations, this unusual situation touched something deeper in the community’s conscience.
“I think we’ll be talking about the Armstrong ostriches for years to come,” reflected elementary school teacher Diane Matsuda, who brought her class to observe the farm from a safe distance last week as part of an impromptu lesson on wildlife management. “It’s sad it ended this way, but it’s opened up important conversations about our relationship with animals.”
As B.C. continues to grapple with the balance between agricultural practices, exotic animal ownership, and public safety, the echo of yesterday’s gunshots serves as a stark reminder that these policy decisions ultimately have very real consequences – both for the animals involved and the communities they unexpectedly become part of.
