OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle associated with the Big Bear Valley nest-cam, remains in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinarians are providing intensive treatment and monitoring.
The center’s latest reported update said Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV, had fallen from 16% to 13%. PCV measures the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells. A low result is a sign of anemia, a condition in which the blood does not carry enough oxygen.
Ojai Raptor Center said the decline showed that Jackie’s anemia had worsened. The veterinary team began advanced diagnostic testing and expedited laboratory work, but the center has not identified the underlying cause of the illness.
Why Jackie’s condition has changed
Jackie previously showed signs of improvement after receiving a blood transfusion. Her PCV rose from 8% to 16%, and the center said she was eating on her own, showing more energy and alertness, and able to perch.
The donated blood came from Spirit, a bald eagle housed at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. Ojai Raptor Center described the transfusion as an important treatment milestone, but continued to classify Jackie’s condition as critical.
The center has reported that Jackie is anemic and has inflammation affecting her kidneys. Testing ruled out lead poisoning, known as lead toxicosis, as well as foreign objects such as fishing hooks, fishing line and weights. Tests for other possible causes have not produced a confirmed diagnosis in the updates available.
What happened before treatment
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team said it rescued an injured bald eagle after a fight with two other eagles and transported the bird to the Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai.
ABC News described the rescued bird as presumed to be Jackie. The available information does not provide definitive identification details beyond that description.
Jackie was transferred to the Ojai facility in July. Earlier reports said she had been receiving oxygen in the intensive-care unit. On July 29, Ojai Raptor Center reported that she had moved to a regular hospital care unit because she no longer needed oxygen therapy.
That move was an improvement in her treatment, but the center warned that she remained very sick and still needed intensive care. The later drop in PCV means the most recent information points to a setback in her recovery.
What remains unknown
The latest information does not establish whether Jackie is still in the regular hospital unit or has returned to intensive care. It also does not provide a complete prognosis, a release date or a confirmed cause of the anemia and kidney inflammation.
Wildlife veterinarians often rely on repeated blood tests, imaging and other laboratory work to determine why a bird is ill. In Jackie’s case, the Ojai Raptor Center said more testing was underway after the PCV decline.
For now, the center’s updates indicate that Jackie remains under veterinary care in California, with her condition serious and her recovery uncertain.
