Death of Jackie: Big Bear’s Celebrity Eagle

Jackie’s Impact and Illness

Jackie, the famous eagle of Big Bear Lake, gained millions of fans through a livestream shared with fellow eagle Shadow. Her death in August led to many questions about the causes. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced she died from highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as bird flu.

Testing showed rat poison was in her system but was not believed to be the primary cause of her illness or death. She was suffering from several diseases, the department stated. In July, she was found weak on the shore of Big Bear Lake and taken to Ojai for treatment.

Treatment Attempts and Necropsy

Tests showed Jackie had anemia, leading to a blood transfusion from another eagle. Despite scans and biopsies, the cause of her illness remained a mystery. She passed away on August 10 at the Ojai Raptor Center.

“The necropsy found highly pathogenic avian influenza as the primary cause of her decline.”

Veterinary pathologists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance performed the necropsy, revealing the flu caused a severe stomach ulcer. Jackie also showed chronic disease signs in the ventriculus (gizzard), contributing to blood loss and anemia. A toxicology screening detected brodifacoum—rat poison—in her liver but did not find it as the main cause of illness.

Cause of Death and Environmental Factors

The necropsy did not find uncontrolled bleeding, ruling out rodenticide as the primary cause. Experts also dismissed West Nile virus and heavy metals as factors. The necropsy results helped to connect findings seen during her hospitalization.

Final Resting Place and Public Reaction

Jackie’s remains were cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Eagle Repository to prevent bird flu spread. This decision faced opposition from fans wishing Jackie would receive special preservation treatment. Typically, recovered eagle carcasses are sent to the facility for religious use among federally recognized Native American tribes.

Jackie’s mate, Shadow, remains at Big Bear and appears healthy. Days after Jackie’s death, Shadow was observed with another female.

Muralist Wes Abarca painted an image of Jackie for a memorial event at Bear Mountain Resort on October 3.