Necropsy finds famed Big Bear bald eagle Jackie died after ‘complex and unusual disease process’

Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle made famous by a webcam’s livestream, died after suffering from multiple ailments and complications, experts said Wednesday in announcing her necropsy findings.

The Ojai Raptor Center, which cared for Jackie until her death on Aug. 10, said on social media:

“The necropsy revealed a complex and unusual disease process involving severe, chronic inflammation and ulceration of the stomach, persistent internal bleeding, anemia and secondary bacterial sepsis. Further diagnostic testing confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within the affected tissues, identifying the virus as an underlying cause of the severe stomach ulceration. Multiple complications developed over time and ultimately contributed to her decline and death.”

Information on what may have caused the various conditions was not immediately available.

After her death, but before the necropsy results came in, the Ojai center reported Jackie had been suffering from health problems including large blood clots in both wings and a kidney.

In July, Jackie was rescued after being found grounded following a fight with other eagles.

Jackie was born in 2012 by two Big Bear Eagles, Ricky and Lucy, named by the U.S. National Forest Service. Jackie fledged from the nest later that summer. Her life and the lives of her mates and chicks were later documented on a livestream camera installed by Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Jackie and the other eagles in the nest attracted legions of followers, some fascinated by the parenting skills of the adult eagles and many connecting the eagles to the larger ecosystem and the need to protect it.

On Oct. 3, some 2,000 fans and watchers of Jackie participated in a Big Bear event honoring her called “Wings Over Big Bear.”

Last month, Jackie was also honored during events in Fawnskin at what is now called Fawnskin Freedom Park.