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Cause of death revealed for Jackie, Big Bear's famous eagle

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15.10.2026

Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle who became a beloved icon via a livestream that broadcast her life to the world, died of avian influenza, according to a report released Wednesday. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is an infectious disease that mostly affects birds. While waterfowl and shorebirds are “natural hosts of avian influenza viruses,” eagles can be exposed by eating infected prey or coming in contact with other infected birds, according to the news release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Jackie died on Aug.10 after receiving more than three weeks of intensive care at the Ojai Raptor Center. The results of the necropsy (an autopsy for animals) were released by Fish and Wildlife, along with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Ojai Raptor Center.

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“Jackie's necropsy confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) as the primary underlying cause of her decline,” Steve Kubiski, director of Disease Investigations for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in the release. “In an uncommon presentation of the virus, the infection caused a severe........

© SFGate