The BC RCMP has confirmed its officers were present Thursday during the long-anticipated cull of hundreds of ostriches on a farm in Edgewood.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it would move forward to “complete depopulation and disposal” of the flock, fulfilling an order it issued more than 10 months ago in an avian flu outbreak that went on to kill 70 of the birds.

The owners of the farm fought the order, but on Thursday the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear their final appeal, lifting a stay on the cull.

In an update Friday, Mounties confirmed that officers helped close the road to the farm for public safety reasons.

Related: • Gunshots ring out at B.C. ostrich farm as cull moves ahead

“Now that the cull is complete, the RCMP will remain on site at the request of CFI

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