Jackie the Bald Eagle Succumbs to Avian Influenza

Before her death, the bird spent weeks at the Ojai Raptor Center battling anemia and other ailments. A necropsy conducted by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance revealed an atypical progression of the virus: a severe stomach ulcer caused persistent internal bleeding, which eventually led to bacterial sepsis. Chris Eksteen, director of the Raptor Center, noted that these findings finally clarified the complex symptoms observed during her final days.

Since 2015, Friends of Big Bear Valley had broadcast the lives of Jackie and her partner, Shadow, from their nest in the San Bernardino Mountains. While her death marks a significant loss for the raptor community, there are currently no signs that Shadow has contracted the illness. Jackie’s remains were cremated to mitigate the risk of further viral transmission. As avian influenza continues to circulate through American bird populations, the case serves as a stark reminder of the threats still facing a species that only recently recovered from the brink of extinction.