EDGEWOOD, BRITISH COLUMBIA — The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to delay its decision on whether to hear an appeal regarding a planned cull of ostriches at a British Columbia farm until at least October 30. This announcement follows the arrest of Jim Kerr, a social media presenter and opponent of the cull, who was taken into custody on Friday. Video footage posted on Facebook captured the moment Kerr was handcuffed and escorted away by two officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Kerr has been present at the farm since April and has garnered a significant following on social media. Neither he nor the police provided comments following the incident. However, Katie Pasitney, a spokesperson for the farm, stated on Facebook that Kerr was arrested for crossing a quarantine line established at the site. The farm's owners are currently awaiting a court ruling on the fate of their ostrich flock, which the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has ordered to be culled due to an outbreak of avian flu.

The Supreme Court typically announces its decisions on appeals on Thursdays. The list of cases for consideration released on October 23 did not include the case involving Universal Ostrich Farms. This omission suggests that a decision on whether the court will hear the case will not occur before October 30, with any ruling potentially coming afterward.

The planned cull was ordered last December after the CFIA reported that an outbreak of avian flu had killed 69 birds at the farm. While tests on two deceased birds confirmed the presence of H5N1 flu, the farm's owners argue that the remaining ostriches show no signs of illness and should not be euthanized. The CFIA maintains that even healthy-looking ostriches can transmit the disease, including new virus mutations.

The Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay on the cull order, allowing the CFIA to take custody of the birds until a decision is made regarding the appeal. If the court declines to hear the case and lifts the stay, the cull will proceed. Conversely, if the court grants the appeal, a final decision on the flock's fate will be determined after the case is heard.

Kerr's arrest is not an isolated incident; it marks the latest in a series of confrontations at the farm. On September 23, two individuals were arrested for obstructing CFIA agents but were later released. The RCMP has also received complaints from local businesses regarding threats and harassment related to the ongoing dispute. Pasitney emphasized the importance of respecting the quarantine line established at the farm, which is crucial for managing the health crisis.

This situation continues to develop as the court's decision approaches, and the community remains divided over the cull's implications for animal welfare and public health.