For more than a decade, nature lovers tracked Jackie and her partner, Shadow, via a live online video feed established by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. The pair nested atop trees in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, turning the eagle into a widely recognized symbol of the species’ recovery in California following decades of conservation efforts after the ban of the pesticide DDT.
Necropsy Details and Medical Complications
During the weeks prior to her death, Jackie received medical treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center for various ailments, including anemia. According to KSL, the necropsy and subsequent laboratory testing performed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance connected multiple clinical findings observed during her hospitalization.
Steve Kubiski, disease investigations director at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, noted that the viral infection presented in an uncommon manner. The disease caused a severe ulcer in Jackie’s stomach, leading to persistent internal bleeding, severe anemia, and the development of bacterial sepsis. Veterinary specialists also uncovered severe inflammation and blood clots in her heart and major blood vessels.
Toxicology Results and Environmental Contaminants
As part of the comprehensive investigation, specialists conducted toxicology screenings to determine if other toxins or illnesses contributed to her decline. Tests confirmed that Jackie was negative for West Nile virus, and heavy metal levels, including lead, remained within acceptable limits.
However, screening detected brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide used in rat poisons, within her liver tissues. Investigators noted that the necropsy did not reveal the uncontrolled bleeding typically associated with rodenticide poisoning, meaning the substance was not identified as the primary driver of her illness.
Status of Shadow and Transmission Prevention
Following the confirmation of avian influenza, Jackie’s remains were cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Eagle Repository to prevent potential transmission of the virus. Wildlife agencies confirmed that available camera data showed no evidence that Shadow or local eaglets are ill. Experts state that raptors typically contract avian influenza through contact with infected birds or by consuming contaminated prey.
Reporting source: ksl.com.