Jackie Big Bear Bald Eagle Death Cause Revealed: California Wildlife Officials Release Necropsy Results After Her Death – Check What Officials Discovered

Jackie Bald Eagle Cause of Death: The necropsy confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, as the primary underlying cause of Jackie’s decline and death. Veterinary pathologists at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conducted the examination and reviewed additional laboratory and toxicology results to understand the combination of illnesses affecting her.

Steve Kubiski, director of disease investigations for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said: “Jackie’s necropsy confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) as the primary underlying cause of her decline,” and added, “In an uncommon presentation of the virus, the infection caused a severe ulcer in her stomach that led to persistent internal bleeding, anaemia, and the development of bacterial sepsis.”

The virus appeared in tissues throughout Jackie’s body, including the damaged tissue in her ventriculus, the muscular part of a bird’s stomach commonly known as the gizzard. The severe ulcer caused ongoing blood loss and anaemia, while the damaged tissue allowed bacteria to enter her body and trigger a secondary infection.

You Might Be Interested In

Veterinarians also found severe inflammation and blood clots in her heart and major blood vessels. These findings helped explain why her condition remained complex despite extensive medical care. 

Jackie Bald Eagle Cause of Death

Jackie, the famous bald eagle from Big Bear Valley in California, died from complications caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, according to necropsy results released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on October 14, 2026. The infection caused a severe ulcer in her gizzard, leading to persistent internal bleeding, anaemia, and bacterial sepsis.

Tests also detected brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rat poison, in her liver, but officials said it was not the primary cause of her death. Jackie died on August 10 after receiving more than three weeks of intensive treatment at the Ojai Raptor Centre. Her life with her mate, Shadow, had captivated millions of viewers through a popular live webcam.

Jackie the Bald Eagle: Was Rat Poison Found in Her Body?

Toxicology testing detected brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide commonly used in rat poison, in Jackie’s liver. However, wildlife officials did not identify the chemical as the primary cause of her illness or death.

The necropsy did not find the uncontrolled bleeding typically associated with anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning. Instead, the examination linked her decline primarily to bird flu, the stomach ulcer, persistent blood loss, anaemia, and bacterial sepsis.