Overview
- Jackie died on Aug. 10 after more than three weeks in rehabilitation, and an Oct. 14 necropsy by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance identified Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza as the primary underlying cause of her decline.
- Pathologists found a severe ulcer in the ventriculus (gizzard) that caused persistent internal bleeding, severe anemia, and allowed bacteria to cause a secondary, life‑threatening sepsis.
- HPAI genetic material was detected in multiple tissues including the ulcerated gizzard tissue, while tests ruled out West Nile virus and heavy‑metal poisoning as drivers of her illness.
- Toxicology detected brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, in Jackie’s liver but the necropsy did not show the uncontrolled bleeding typical of rodenticide death, and Jackie’s remains were cremated under federal HPAI biosecurity rules.
- Agencies stressed the case underscores how raptors can pick up HPAI by eating infected prey and highlights concerns about environmental rodenticide exposure, with officials noting no camera evidence that Jackie’s mate Shadow or the eaglets became sick.