What Happened to Jackie? Big Bear Eagle’s Cause of Death Revealed

The mystery surrounding the death of California's beloved bald eagle Jackie has finally been solved. Here is a look at Jackie's remarkable life and what state officials said led to her demise.

Bird Flu Responsible for Jackie's Death

Investigators in California have determined what caused the death of Jackie the bald eagle. Jackie had become an internet sensation in recent years, thanks to a live webcam that broadcast her life from Big Bear Valley. Millions of viewers from around the world tuned into the feed to watch Jackie and her family live their best lives deep in the Sierra Nevada.

According to findings released last week by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jackie died from complications related to avian influenza, most commonly known as bird flu. Jackie passed away almost two months ago while being cared for at the Ojai Raptor Center.

The recently released necropsy results showed that Jackie's prolonged illness triggered severe internal bleeding, a bacterial infection, and anemia. All of it was too much for the famous bird to overcome.

"Jackie's necropsy confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) as the primary underlying cause of her decline," said Steve Kubiski, director of disease investigations at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Kubiski explained that "In an uncommon presentation of the virus, the infection caused a severe ulcer in her stomach that led to persistent internal bleeding, anemia, and the development of bacterial sepsis."

Animal experts were able to determine that Jackie developed an ulcer in the muscular part of her stomach. The damaged tissue surrounding this ulcer paved the way for bacteria to enter her body and produce a secondary infection. The investigators also determined that the bird presented with severe inflammation as well as blood clots in her heart and blood vessels.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife explained that bird flu has been circulating among the wild bird population all over the U.S. Birds of prey such as Jackie can become infected when they eat prey that has the contagious viral disease.

Toxicology tests performed on Jackie confirmed that brodifacoum, a chemical used in rat poison, was found in Jackie's liver. However, this did not appear to be the primary factor leading to Jackie's illness and subsequent death. The investigators also ruled out West Nile virus as a cause of death.

Because Jackie tested positive for the bird flu, she was cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in an effort to prevent the spread to others.