Quacktavious, beloved pet duck that once attended Oregon football game, dies

Quacktavious, a University of Oregon student’s infamous pet duck who was adored on campus and in Eugene over the previous two years and who once went to a game at Autzen Stadium, passed away on Wednesday.

Just before 8 a.m. this morning, Jeremy Jackson, the owner of Quacktavious and a junior at UO, said that upon returning home from physical training with the Army National Guard, he discovered the almost three-year-old bird dead.

According to Jackson, it was only natural. He was as excellent as usual in the days before. He was eating and drinking the water when I fed him again last night. He was still doing well when I got up for physical therapy this morning. He was gone when I walked in to check on him after returning from physical therapy.

It was difficult. I was unable to attend my class at eight o’clock. I was completely confused. My pals have been texting me to see how I’m doing. A day has passed. I attempted to go to my lesson at twelve in the hopes of distracting myself, but it was unsuccessful.

After Jackson took him into the student section for the Oregon football game versus Colorado on September 23, 2023, Quacktavious became well-known around the country. Since Jackson purchased Quacktavious as a duckling from Tractor Supply Co. in Starkville, Mississippi, in the spring of 2022, he and his owner have been practically together on campus and in the Eugene area for about 18 months.

Jackson took him to a number of other Ducks games, such as lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and beach volleyball, as well as innumerable social functions, even though Quacktavious never again appeared at Autzen Stadium.

Jackson claimed that people frequently asked him where Quacktavious was while they weren’t together.

After moving from Mississippi State to his dream school, UO, Jackson, a native of Saltillo, Mississippi, is happy to have had the opportunity to share so many memories with others.

“It will require some time to adjust,” Jackson stated. It played a significant role in my life. I don’t want to claim that I will stop being myself. Because I have QT, many people will still know me. I’ve wanted to attend this school since I was a young child. There was always something going well when I turned around. Things that I could only envision happening or that I never even considered happened.

I’m not sure how to explain the loss of this one item that was a significant part of who I am. That guy who was famous for owning a duck is not the kind of person I want to be. Since he no longer has his duck, I don’t want to be the man who disappears. I want to make an impression on people that lasts. When my time here is up, I want everyone to remember me for sharing all of these experiences and for being able to share in the happiness I had with Quacktavious.