Celebrity Eagle Jackie Dies from Bird Flu

Jackie, the famed eagle known for her livestream at Big Bear Lake, captured the hearts of millions. Her unexpected death in August left fans with questions. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed she died from highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu. While rat poison was found in her system, it wasn’t deemed the primary cause of her demise. The department reported she suffered from multiple diseases.

In July, Jackie was found weak and unkempt at Big Bear Lake’s shoreline and was taken to Ojai for treatment. Tests revealed anemia, leading to a blood transfusion from another eagle. Despite extensive tests, including scans and biopsies, experts couldn’t determine the cause of her illness. She passed away on August 10 at the Ojai Raptor Center.

Veterinary pathologists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conducted a necropsy, revealing bird flu as the main cause of her decline, resulting in a severe stomach ulcer. Jackie also suffered from chronic disease affecting her ventriculus or gizzard, causing blood loss, anemia, and a secondary bacterial infection. Toxicology reports found brodifacoum, a rat poison, in her liver, along with other environmental contaminants.

The necropsy did not find uncontrolled bleeding typically associated with anticoagulant rodenticide; therefore, brodifacoum was not identified as the primary cause of illness or death, Fish and Wildlife stated.

Other factors like West Nile virus and heavy metals were ruled out. Chris Eksteen, executive director of the Ojai Raptor Center, noted, “The necropsy results have helped connect many of the findings we were seeing throughout the eagle’s hospitalization.”

Her remains were cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Eagle Repository to prevent the spread of bird flu. Some fans disagreed with sending Jackie to the repository, which provides eagle parts for Native American tribes’ religious use. They felt Jackie deserved special treatment, such as preservation through taxidermy.

Jackie’s partner, Shadow, still resides at Big Bear and appears healthy. Shortly after Jackie’s death, Shadow was seen with a new female.