BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., Aug. 10 (Our Hesperia) — Bald eagle Jackie, a longtime resident of California’s Big Bear Valley and a familiar sight on nest livestreams, died Aug. 10 after her health continued to worsen during more than three weeks of intensive medical care, the Ojai Raptor Center said.
The center identified Jackie as Patient 26-519. Her remains were transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which may help determine more about the illness that led to her death. The cause had not been announced.
What happened to Jackie?
Jackie was rescued July 17 by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team. She had reportedly been involved in a fight with two subadult eagles near the Dana Point Park area by Big Bear Lake. She was found weak and unable to fly.
The Ojai Raptor Center said initial bloodwork showed severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys. Anemia means the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen. Kidney inflammation can interfere with the body’s ability to filter waste and maintain normal chemical levels.
Chris Eksteen, the center’s executive director, told the Los Angeles Times that the fight likely left Jackie grounded but did not explain her broader symptoms. He said the eagle appeared to have been sick for some time before she was found.
Why was her condition so serious?
Jackie received a blood transfusion, oxygen therapy and other supportive care. She was monitored around the clock in the center’s intensive care unit. Her treatment was reviewed by a team that included nine veterinarians, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to the Ojai Raptor Center.
Veterinarians tracked her packed cell volume, or PCV. This is the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells and is one way to measure the severity of anemia.
The center reported that Jackie’s PCV fell to 13% on Aug. 3, dropped below 6% on Aug. 8 and rose to 9% on Aug. 9. The center said it wanted the level to be above 30%. Although the increase on Aug. 9 was a small improvement, officials said she remained critically ill and unstable.
The center also reported that Jackie underwent additional diagnostic procedures, including a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy. The available reports do not include the results of those tests.
What is known about her death?
The Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie died in the early hours of Aug. 10 despite intensive treatment and the efforts of its veterinary staff and consulting specialists.
The center said it planned to issue a more detailed statement about her treatment and test results while working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. No agency had publicly released a cause of illness or death in the information available for this report.
Why was Jackie well known?
Jackie was known for appearing with her partner, Shadow, at a Big Bear Valley nest monitored by Friends of Big Bear Valley through livestream cameras. The cameras allowed viewers to follow the eagles’ activity and made Jackie widely recognized beyond the California mountain community.
Reports have identified Jackie as 14 years old, although the available information does not provide a direct age record from a public agency. Her death does not, by itself, establish a broader trend in bald eagle health or populations. The material available for this report includes no environmental monitoring data, population study or peer-reviewed research linking her illness to weather, climate or other regional conditions.
