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Shots were heard at Universal's ostrich farm in Edgewood, British Columbia, Thursday evening.
CBC News reporters at the scene reported hearing multiple gunshots at the farm.
Over a 30-minute period at 6:10 p.m. PT, reporters heard about five gunshots, about a dozen rounds each.
This happened on the same day that the Supreme Court of Canada refused to consider the appeal to save the Universal Ostrich herd from being culled by order of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
- For a full account of the story that unfolded at Universal Ostrich Farms after the nation's highest court refused to hear the farm's appeal, read the CBC News live coverage here.
This removed any legal obstacles to killing the flock, which the CFIA says numbers between 300 and 330 birds.
The cull was ordered after bird flu was discovered at the farm in December last year.
The shots came from inside a straw bale pen where CFIA officers were herding scores of ostriches.
As the shots rang out, supporters shouted from about a dozen cars parked along the road leading to the farm.
They shouted “Stop!” and “Murderers!” amid shots fired after dark.
The operation comes after the CFIA said it was moving towards the “complete depopulation and eradication” of ostriches.
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected an appeal by a British Columbia ostrich farm to stay its order to destroy a flock of more than 300 birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says it will now “move forward” on the cull.
Just before the shots were fired, CBC reporters saw field lights turn on, illuminating a straw bale enclosure that had been installed by the CFIA to house ostriches.
Reporters also heard a drone flying overhead.
CBC News has reached out to the CFIA for more information.
