Flaco the Owl's cause of death revealed: Beloved bird was suffering from PIGEON HERPES and had ingested rat poison before flying into glass building, necropsy shows

If Flaco the Owl had not died when he flew into an Upper West Side building, he would have been killed by pigeon herpes and rat poison that he had in his system from eating feral pests, a necropsy report has revealed. 

Flaco had captivated the hearts and minds of New Yorkers, soaring over Central Park and hooting from the trees after vandals helped him escape captivity last year. 

Hundreds turned out for his funeral last month, gathering to weep at his favorite haunts, after he was found lying dead in a courtyard on February 23.

A month later, a necropsy report has finally revealed his cause of death to be 'traumatic injuries' from flying into the building, but the report found he also had pigeon herpes and rat poison in his system that would have killed him soon after. 

The report said: 'These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building.' 

A necropsy report has finally revealed Flaco's cause of death to be 'traumatic injuries' from flying into a building as well as pigeon herpes and rat poison in his system

Flaco became an inspiration and joy to many as he flew around Manhattan after someone let him out of his zoo enclosure

Flaco was found dead on the Upper West Side on Feb. 23 after apparently hitting a building

David Barrett, a bird enthusiast who runs a social media page that documented the owl's movements told Reuters: 'Though these results remind us of the tragedy of Flaco´s passing, they also bring understanding and closure.'

Flaco was a rare Eurasian Eagle-Owle who lived in the Central Park Zoo until he was reported missing from his exhibit last February. 

It was later revealed that vandals had cut Flaco's stainless steel mesh cage and set the owl free into the skies of New York City. 

Against all odds, Flaco survived on his own, despite fears that his plush life at the zoo - where he was fed and tended to by workers - had set him up for failure. 

But his inspiring life was cut tragically short on February 23.

The owl died after flying into a water tower on West 86th Street east of Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side.

Reports of hoots had been heard in the area, and his body was found just a few blocks away - confirming what Flaco's fans had feared after hearing the news of distressed hoots on his regular stomping ground.

Now a postmortem has discovered the detailed causes of his death.  

Central Park Zoo shared the report, saying: 'Bronx Zoo veterinary pathologists determined that in addition to the traumatic injuries, Flaco had two significant underlying conditions.

'He had a severe pigeon herpesvirus from eating feral pigeons that had become part of his diet, and exposure to four different anticoagulant rodenticides that are commonly used for rat control in New York City.

'The identified herpesvirus can be carried by healthy pigeons but may cause fatal disease in birds of prey including owls infected by eating pigeons. 

'In Flaco’s case, the viral infection caused severe tissue damage and inflammation in many organs, including the spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and brain.'

It concluded: 'Flaco’s severe illness and death are ultimately attributed to a combination of factors—infectious disease, toxin exposures, and traumatic injuries—that underscore the hazards faced by wild birds, especially in an urban setting.' 

Flaco is a rare Eurasian Eagle-Owle who previously called the Central Park Zoo home - until the bird was reported missing from his exhibit last February 

After a year of thriving in freedom, Flaco was sadly reported to have flown his last flight on Sunday at 3 am 

The owl was reported to have sadly died after flying into a water tower on West 86th Street east of Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side

Following Flaco's disappearance from his Central Park Zoo enclosure last year, a full bird-hunt was launched in an effort to safely return the feathered-creature to his home. 

He was spotted shortly after being reported missing on the city's iconic shopping stretch on Fifth Avenue. 

Flaco was then intercepted by the NYPD on a sidewalk by 60th Street but able to elude their custody. The next morning he made off into Central Park. 

'Our focus and effort at this time is on the safe recovery of the owl,' zoo officials said in a press release. 'We will issue updates as needed.'

Despite efforts, Flaco maintained his status as a free bird and was even rumored to have taken a vacation from his Central Park pad in search of a mate.

Experts believe he abandoned the park in November to search for a mate after he was spotted five miles away on East 3rd Street.

He was thought to be the only member of his species in North America, meaning his search might have had to expand further than downtown Manhattan.

Against all odds, Flaco survived on his own, despite fears that his plush life at the zoo - where he was fed and tended to by workers - had set him up for failure 

Photographers and bird watchers from across the world were drawn to New York in February as news of Flaco's escape spread 

Experts believe he abandoned the park in November to search for a mate after he was spotted five miles away on East 3rd Street

Following Flaco's disappearance from his Central Park Zoo enclosure last year, a full bird-hunt was launched in an effort to safely return the feathered-creature to his home

'It's the time of year when these owls look to pair up if unattached,' tweeted fans at Manhattan Bird Alert.

'Flaco's hoots have gone unanswered for a long time now.

'He was last observed in Central Park on the evening of October 31, and that's when we think he left.

'He likely took short, incremental night flights in the course of hunting that carried him five plus miles in six days.

'He is unaware that no mates are anywhere in the region.'

Flaco was less than a year old when he arrived at Central Park Zoo in 2010 taking up residence near the Penguins and Sea Birds building.

He had little chance to develop his flying or hunting skills in captivity but has thrived since his escape and been spotted eating up to four rats at one sitting, belying his name which means 'Skinny' in Spanish.

His fans were nervous he would fall victim to the rodenticide used to poison rats which is thought to have contributed to the death of a barred owl known as Barry, who died in the park in 2021.

Flaco will be greatly missed by New Yorkers.