Cause of Death Released for Big Bear Bald Eagle Jackie: Necropsy Finds Bird Flu Was the Primary Cause
Big Bear Lake — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), together with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Ojai Raptor Center, released the results on October 14 of the necropsy and follow-up testing on Jackie (Patient 26-519), the bald eagle from Big Bear Valley. The testing identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as the primary underlying cause of her decline.
Veterinary pathologists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance performed the necropsy. According to the findings released by CDFW, the infection presented in an uncommon way: it produced a severe ulcer in the ventriculus, the muscular part of the stomach known as the gizzard, leading to persistent internal bleeding, severe anemia and secondary bacterial sepsis. Examiners also found severe inflammation and blood clot formation in the heart and several major blood vessels, and HPAI genetic material was detected in multiple tissues, including the ulcerated stomach tissue. Toxicology and initial avian influenza testing were done by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis, with final confirmation through the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
Toxicology screening detected the anticoagulant rodenticide brodifacoum and other persistent environmental contaminants in Jackie's liver, but the necropsy did not show the uncontrolled bleeding typically associated with that rodenticide, so it was not identified as the primary cause of her illness or death. Testing for West Nile virus was negative, and heavy metals, including lead, were within acceptable limits.
Jackie was found in July near Dana Point Park on the north shore of Big Bear Lake, weak and unable to fly after an altercation with two subadult eagles, and was taken to the Ojai Raptor Center. She received more than three weeks of intensive care there, including a blood transfusion, but died overnight on August 9-10 at about 14 years old. Her remains were cremated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Eagle Repository under established procedures intended to prevent transmission of HPAI.
Jackie hatched in Big Bear Valley in 2012 and is believed to be the first bald eagle known to have hatched there. The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley installed a nest camera in 2015, and millions of viewers worldwide watched her and her mate, Shadow, tend the nest and raise eaglets, most recently Sandy and Luna, who hatched in April. CDFW said Shadow remains in Big Bear and that camera data show no evidence that Shadow or the eaglets were sick. CDFW Director Meghan Hertel said in the release that what is learned from this case can help inform the care and treatment of other eagles and wildlife in the future.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 白头鹰Jackie在救治期间的照片，加州鱼类与野生动物部（CDFW）官方发布 / Jackie the bald eagle during her care. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), official release.
