EDGEWOOD, B.C. - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating a series of escalating threats directed at businesses associated with a planned cull of approximately 400 ostriches in British Columbia. The cull was ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in response to an avian influenza outbreak at Universal Ostrich Farms last December. However, the birds have been spared for the time being due to an interim stay issued by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Businesses across the province have reported being inundated with threatening calls and emails. The RCMP stated that the language used in these communications is intended to intimidate those who may be involved in the cull. On Wednesday, one company in the Lower Mainland reported receiving threats that its offices would be attacked and that employees would be followed home and shot.

Katie Pasitney, a spokeswoman for the farm, has been a prominent figure in the movement to save the ostriches. She has actively encouraged supporters to contact businesses she believes are aiding the CFIA. In a Facebook post, she claimed that a company had "rented all their fencing panels to help kill almost 400 healthy animals" and urged her followers to demand the return of the panels.

In a livestream, Pasitney warned a hay supplier, saying, "We will eventually find out where they’ve come from, and you are not going to be a hero today. You take all that hay back to wherever you came from because our animals are going to be corralled and blood will be splattered all over your hay bales." Later that day, a wall of hay bales was constructed around part of the birds' enclosure in preparation for the cull. However, several bales were found charred by fire early Wednesday morning, with police suspecting foul play.

In response to the threats, the RCMP have launched multiple investigations aimed at making arrests and recommending charges. They emphasized that there is no online protection for individuals inciting violence under the guise of protest. "Companies have a right to conduct business with whomever they wish, just as protesters have a right to their freedom of expression and association," the RCMP stated.

Some businesses have been mistakenly targeted. For instance, the Arjun Esso gas station in Armstrong received numerous calls and negative reviews despite having no connection to the ostrich farm. Owner Harry Thind expressed confusion over the harassment, stating, "The phone line was not stopping at all. I had not yet heard of the movement surrounding the ostrich farm."

A post on the farm's Facebook page acknowledged the mistake, urging supporters to retract their negative reviews of the Esso station. Another supporter, who had previously posted critical comments, later expressed regret, stating, "None of that was ever meant to say we’re going to attack you or hurt you or anything like that. It was more meant of a shame thing but it was not cool."

The CFIA has stated that it will comply with the court's stay and continue to provide appropriate care for the ostriches while maintaining control of the enclosure. The agency has confirmed that search warrants allowing it to manage certain areas of the farm remain in effect.

Pasitney and her mother, Karen Espersen, co-owner of the ostrich farm, received news of the interim stay shortly after a prayer with supporters. Both women were arrested on Tuesday for refusing to leave the ostriches' pen but were later released with restrictions on entering the enclosure.