The mystery surrounding the death of Jackie, one half of Big Bear Valley's famous bald eagle pair, has finally been answered.
Anewly released necropsy reportfound that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, was the primary underlying cause of the beloved eagle's decline and death. But wildlife experts say Jackie's case was unusual, involving a severe stomach ulcer, chronic blood loss, bacterial infection and multiple interconnected health problems that developed over time.
The findings, released Wednesday by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Ojai Raptor Center, provide the most detailed explanation yet of what happened to the eagle known to millions of viewers who followed
her life through Big Bear's popular nest cameras.
What caused Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle to die?
Veterinary pathologists determined Jackie was suffering from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, a virus that has circulated among wild bird populations across the United States in recent years.
According to Steve Kubiski, director of disease investigations with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Jackie's case presented in an uncommon way.
Rather than causing the typical symptoms associated with bird flu, the infection triggered a severe ulcer in her ventriculus, the muscular portion of a bird's stomach, or gizzard. The ulcer caused persistent internal bleeding that led to severe anemia and allowed bacteria to enter her bloodstream, resulting in bacterial sepsis.
The report concluded those conditions, combined with widespread inflammation and blood clot formation, ultimately led to Jackie's death.
Necropsy reveals chronic illness and internal bleeding
The examination found evidence of a long-developing disease process involving significant damage to Jackie's stomach tissue.
Wildlife veterinarians said the ulcerated tissue caused ongoing blood loss and persistent anemia. Testing also detected bird flu virus genetic material in multiple organs and tissues throughout her body, including the damaged stomach tissue.
Researchers ruled out several other potential causes. Follow-up testing found Jackie was negative for West Nile virus, and heavy metals, including lead, were within acceptable limits and were not linked to her illness or death.
The findings helped explain many of the symptoms wildlife specialists observed while Jackie was receiving treatment after she was found injured near the family's nest in Fawnskin in July.
Was rat poison responsible for Jackie's death?
Testing detected brodifacoum, a common anticoagulant rodenticide often used to kill rats and mice, in Jackie's liver.
However, the necropsy found no signs of the uncontrolled bleeding typically associated with rodenticide poisoning.
Because of that, investigators concluded brodifacoum was not the primary cause of illness or death, though the report noted the presence of the toxic substance and other environmental contaminants in her system.
What the report means for California's bald eagles
Wildlife officials say the findings could help biologists and veterinarians better understand how bird flu affects raptors and other protected species.
"The necropsy results have helped connect many of the findings we were seeing throughout the eagle's hospitalization," Ojai Raptor Center Executive Director Chris Eksteen said in a statement.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Meghan Hertel said understanding Jackie's case may help inform future treatment and conservation efforts involving bald eagles and other wildlife exposed to avian influenza.
The report also noted that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Eagle Repository cremated Jackie's remains to reduce the risk of spreading bird flu to people or other wildlife.
How are Shadow and the Big Bear eaglets doing?
The report found no evidence that Shadow, Jackie's longtime mate, or their eaglets, Sandy and Luna, were sick.
Since Jackie's death in August, Shadow has remained in the Big Bear area and has frequently been seen with a younger female bald eagle known as KD1, or Kaydee.
Meanwhile, Sandy and Luna fledged earlier this year and entered the wild, giving a bright spot to thousands of eagle enthusiasts who followed the family online.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle died of bird flu, report finds
