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Jackie, the well-known bald eagle from Big Bear Lake, died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) necropsy found that the infection produced an unusual, severe ulcer in her stomach (the ventriculus or gizzard). The ulcer caused continuing internal bleeding, profound anemia and secondary bacterial sepsis. Brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, was detected in her liver but was not judged to be the primary cause of her illness or death.
What the necropsy confirmed
CDFW, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Ojai Raptor Center released the final findings on October 14, 2026. The necropsy identified HPAI as the primary underlying cause of Jackie’s decline. Disease-investigations director Steve Kubiski described the stomach-ulcer presentation as uncommon for the virus.
HPAI genetic material was detected in several tissues, including the ulcerated stomach tissue. The infection caused severe inflammation and blood clots in the heart and major blood vessels. The stomach damage led to persistent internal hemorrhage; that blood loss caused severe anemia, and bacteria then spread to produce sepsis. Kubiski summarized the conclusion: “Jackie’s necropsy confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) as the primary underlying cause of her decline.”
How Jackie’s illness progressed
| Date or period | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | Jackie was found weak on the Big Bear Lake shoreline after reports that she had been involved in a fight with two subadult eagles. |
| More than three weeks after rescue | The Ojai Raptor Center treated her for severe anemia and other complications, including a blood transfusion. |
| August 10, 2026 | Jackie died despite treatment. |
| October 14, 2026 | CDFW and its partners released the final necropsy and diagnostic findings. |
Jackie was publicly identified in veterinary records as Patient 26-519. Chris Eksteen, executive director of the Ojai Raptor Center, said the necropsy “helped connect many of the findings we were seeing throughout the eagle’s hospitalization,” including the anemia and the signs of systemic infection.
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Did bird flu kill Jackie?
Yes. The official conclusion is that HPAI initiated the chain of disease that led to her death. In Jackie’s case, the virus did not simply cause a short-lived respiratory illness. It damaged the stomach, triggered ongoing bleeding, weakened her through anemia and was followed by bacterial sepsis. The tissue testing and the pattern of injury supported HPAI as the underlying disease rather than an incidental finding.
Did rat poison cause her death?
Testing found brodifacoum in Jackie’s liver, along with persistent environmental contaminants. Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant rodenticide that can interfere with blood clotting. However, the official release said the necropsy did not show the uncontrolled bleeding pattern typically associated with anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning. For that reason, brodifacoum was recorded as a toxicology finding but not as the primary cause of Jackie’s illness or death.
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This distinction matters: detecting a chemical in tissue does not by itself establish that it caused the fatal disease. In Jackie’s case, the anatomical findings, HPAI genetic material and clinical course pointed to viral disease with secondary complications.
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What other tests ruled out
- West Nile virus: Testing was negative.
- Heavy metals: Levels, including lead, were within acceptable limits and were not associated with the disease progression.
- Anticoagulant-type bleeding: The necropsy did not find the characteristic uncontrolled hemorrhage expected from brodifacoum poisoning as the main explanation.
The findings do not mean environmental contaminants are harmless to wildlife. They mean those detected in Jackie were not identified as the driver of this particular fatal episode.
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What happened to Jackie’s remains
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Eagle Repository cremated Jackie’s remains under established procedures. The handling was intended to reduce the risk of transmitting HPAI to other wildlife or people. Cremation also follows the special federal procedures used for protected eagles.
Was Jackie’s mate Shadow affected?
There was no camera evidence that Jackie’s mate, Shadow, or the eaglets became sick. Shadow remains in Big Bear Valley. The absence of observed illness is reassuring, but it does not change the precautions wildlife agencies use when HPAI is suspected: minimizing contact with sick or dead wild birds and relying on trained responders for collection and testing.
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Why the finding matters for Big Bear’s eagles
Jackie’s case shows that HPAI can produce serious disease outside the symptoms many people associate with bird flu. A bird can suffer major gastrointestinal injury, blood loss and sepsis, not only respiratory signs. That makes professional examination important when an eagle appears weak, injured or unusually lethargic.
Meghan Hertel, CDFW’s director, noted the strong public connection to the Big Bear bald eagle. For viewers who followed Jackie, the final diagnosis provides a specific medical explanation while separating the confirmed cause from substances found during toxicology screening. It also explains why agencies handled the carcass cautiously and continued watching the surviving birds.
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What to do if you find a sick or dead wild bird
- Do not touch, move or feed the bird, and keep pets and children away.
- Contact the relevant state wildlife agency, wildlife rehabilitator or other trained responder.
- Report the location and visible condition accurately; do not attempt home treatment.
- If contact is unavoidable, follow public-health guidance for protective clothing, handwashing and disinfection.
Jackie received intensive rehabilitation, including a transfusion, but the underlying HPAI infection and its complications proved fatal. Her final diagnosis is therefore: HPAI as the primary cause, with a stomach ulcer, internal bleeding, severe anemia and bacterial sepsis as the connected disease process; brodifacoum and other tested contaminants were not considered the primary cause.
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