BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., Aug. 10 (Our Hesperia) — Jackie, the bald eagle associated with a widely watched nest in California’s Big Bear Valley, died in the early hours of Aug. 10 after more than three weeks of intensive medical care, the Ojai Raptor Center said.
The center identified the bird as Patient 26-519. It said her health continued to deteriorate despite treatment by its veterinary staff and consulting specialists. Jackie received oxygen, supportive care and constant monitoring in an intensive care unit.
Her remains were transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency’s findings, including any determination about the cause of her illness or death, were not included in the information released by the raptor center.
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 and was found weak and unable to fly.
She was then taken to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment. The center’s July 21 health update said initial bloodwork showed severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys. Anemia means the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body.
Jackie received a blood transfusion, along with other intensive treatments. Reports also described diagnostic procedures including a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy, but the available information does not include the results of those tests.
Chris Eksteen, the center’s executive director, told the Los Angeles Times that the fight likely left Jackie unable to fly but did not explain her other symptoms. The center said it had not determined publicly what caused her illness.
Why was her condition so serious?
Veterinarians tracked Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV. This is the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells and is one measure of anemia.
The Ojai Raptor Center reported that Jackie’s PCV fell to 13% on Aug. 3. It dropped below 6% on Aug. 8, then rose to 9% on Aug. 9. The center said the desired level was above 30%.
The slight increase was not enough to make her stable. The center said Jackie remained critically ill and continued to receive oxygen, supportive treatment and around-the-clock care. A team that evaluated her treatment included nine veterinarians, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the center.
What was Jackie known for?
Jackie was known for appearing with her longtime partner, Shadow, at a Big Bear Valley nest monitored by livestream cameras associated with Friends of Big Bear Valley. The cameras drew viewers who followed the eagles’ nesting activity and seasonal behavior.
Her death is the loss of one identifiable bird, not by itself evidence of a broader change in California’s bald eagle population or of an environmental trend. The information released so far does not connect Jackie’s illness to weather, climate conditions, pollution or another regionwide cause.
The Ojai Raptor Center said it planned to issue a more detailed statement about Jackie’s treatment and test results while working with state and federal wildlife officials. No timetable for that information was provided.
