By admin 
The official cause of death has been released for the female partner of one of California’s famous couples — Jackie the bald eagle.
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Ojai Raptor Center, released results Wednesday on the necropsy done on Patient 26-519, aka Jackie, from Big Bear Valley.
“Jackie’s necropsy confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza as the primary underlying cause of her decline,” said Steve Kubiski, Director of Disease Investigations, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “In an uncommon presentation of the virus, the infection caused a severe ulcer in her stomach that led to persistent internal bleeding, anemia, and the development of bacterial sepsis.”
Bird flu can be found in both livestock and wildlife.
Avian flu has been previously detected in birds migrating through California, state officials reported following detection of the virus in California livestock including Sacramento County turkeys in Nov. 2024.
The virus was particularly pronounced in the state that year, reaching its height in December, when Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over a rise in bird flu infections.
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Infected flocks are quarantined, and usually the birds are destroyed. Waterfowl and shorebirds are natural hosts of avian influenza viruses, the Ojai Raptor Center said, eagles like Jackie can be exposed through contact with infected birds or infected prey.
Jackie was taken to the Raptor Center on July 18 after she was rescued following a fight with two other bald eagles on the shores of Big Bear Lake. She died Aug. 10. Per guidelines established to prevent the transmission of bird flu to wildlife or humans, Jackie’s remains were cremated.
Jackie’s mate, Shadow, remains in Big Bear, and has been seen with a new potential mate, Kaydee.
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