World · North America · 1 hr ago
Bird flu was the primary cause of Big Bear eagle Jackie’s death
Jackie, a well-known bald eagle in Big Bear Valley, died on Aug.
10 after she was found weak near Big Bear Lake and taken for treatment.
A post-mortem examination found highly pathogenic bird flu was the main cause of her decline.
The infection caused a severe stomach ulcer, while chronic disease in her gizzard contributed to blood loss, anemia and a serious bacterial infection.
Tests also found rat poison in her liver, but officials said it was not the primary cause of her illness or death.
They ruled out West Nile virus and found that heavy metals were not linked to her condition.
Her remains were cremated under procedures intended to prevent bird flu from spreading.
Her mate Shadow remains in Big Bear and appears healthy, and officials said they had no evidence that he or the eaglets were sick.
Jackie, the bald eagle known for her Big Bear Valley livestream, died from highly pathogenic avian influenza, officials said.
A necropsy found the infection caused a severe stomach ulcer and was the primary underlying cause of her decline.
Jackie also had chronic gizzard disease, anemia, blood loss and a serious secondary bacterial infection.
Rat poison was detected in her liver, but officials said it was not the primary cause of her illness or death.
Jackie died on Aug. 10 while in the care of the Ojai Raptor Center, and her remains were cremated to prevent the spread of bird flu.
- Who
- Jackie, a bald eagle known from Big Bear Valley.
- What
- She died from highly pathogenic avian influenza, the primary underlying cause of her decline.
- When
- She died on Aug. 10; officials announced the necropsy findings on Oct. 15, 2026.
- Where
- Jackie was found on the shoreline of Big Bear Lake and died in the care of the Ojai Raptor Center.
- Why
- The infection caused a severe stomach ulcer and was linked to internal bleeding, anemia and a secondary bacterial infection.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jackie was found weak and disheveled on the shoreline of Big Bear Lake and taken to Ojai for treatment.
Jackie died while in the care of the Ojai Raptor Center.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its partners released the necropsy and diagnostic testing results.
- Primary cause
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza
- Death date
- Aug. 10
- Treatment center
- Ojai Raptor Center
- Toxicology finding
- Brodifacoum, a rat poison, was detected in her liver
- Remains
- Cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Eagle Repository
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What people are saying
Jackie's necropsy confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) as the primary underlying cause of her decline
The necropsy results have helped connect many of the findings we were seeing throughout the eagle’s hospitalization