Big Bear bald eagle Jackie's cause of death revealed

Key Points:

• Jackie, a 14-year-old Big Bear bald eagle, died in August due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which caused a severe stomach ulcer leading to internal bleeding, anemia, and bacterial sepsis, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
• Despite weeks of rehabilitation and a blood transfusion, Jackie’s condition worsened due to chronic disease in her stomach, severe inflammation, blood clots in her heart and major vessels, and the presence of HPAI virus in multiple tissues.
• Toxicology tests detected the rodenticide brodifacoum in Jackie’s liver, but it was not considered the primary cause of death as there was no evidence of uncontrolled bleeding linked to the chemical.
• Jackie was a beloved figure in Southern California, known through a 24/7 livestream documenting her life and parenting of eaglets; there is no evidence that her partner Shadow or their eaglets were infected or ill.
• CDFW emphasized the importance of Jackie’s case in raising public awareness about bald eagle conservation and the role of wildlife in connecting people to nature, with her remains cremated following safety protocols to prevent HPAI transmission.