BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. — A beloved bald eagle whose life was followed by hundreds of thousands of online viewers died from complications of bird flu, wildlife officials announced this week.
Jackie, a female raptor known for nesting near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, died in August following treatment for multiple ailments. A necropsy determined that highly pathogenic avian influenza was the primary underlying trigger of her health decline, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a joint release with wildlife specialists.
Severe complications from infection
Before her death, Jackie had been admitted to the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinary staff treated her for anemia and other conditions following an injury sustained during a fight with other birds, ABC News reported. Chris Eksteen, director of the center, said post-mortem evaluations helped connect several medical issues observed while she was hospitalized.
Specialists observed an atypical manifestation of the avian virus. Steve Kubiski, director of disease investigations at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, explained that the infection attacked the eagle’s digestive tract.
“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,” Kubiski said in a statement.
The post-mortem review also uncovered severe inflammation, secondary bacterial infections, and blood clots, according to ABC News. In addition, toxicology analysis revealed environmental pollutants and traces of brodifacoum, a type of commercial rodenticide, in Jackie’s liver. State officials concluded that interconnected, chronic illnesses accumulated over time and contributed to her death.
CDFW Director Meghan Hertel expressed gratitude for the care Jackie received, adding that details from the medical evaluation could help veterinarians diagnose and treat other sick birds in the future.
A symbol of wildlife recovery
Jackie rose to prominence as an ambassador for the recovery of her species in Southern California. Bald eagles had experienced steep population declines across the nation until the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s, paving the way for conservation safeguards that allowed eagles to rebound and eventually leave the federal endangered species list.
Beginning in 2015, the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley set up a live video stream documenting Jackie and her longtime mate, Shadow, high in the trees east of Los Angeles. The pair captured international attention, successfully rearing five eaglets together over the years as followers watched their seasonal trials and triumphs.
Avian influenza has spread through wild bird populations across the U.S. While waterfowl and shorebirds are the primary natural hosts, predatory birds such as eagles contract the illness through contact with sick animals or by consuming infected prey. To prevent the virus from spreading further, Jackie’s remains were cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Eagle Repository.
State wildlife authorities confirmed there is no evidence that Shadow has contracted the virus. He continues to reside in the Big Bear Valley and has recently been observed spending time with a new female bald eagle known to observers as KD1.
