Two wildlife groups posted updates on Thursday, July 23, about how Jackie is doing following a ‘life-saving’ blood transfusion. They say she ‘remains bright and strong’ but ‘she can turn in a moment.’
Beloved bald eagle Jackie rescued after mysterious disappearance
Beloved bald eagles Jackie and Shadow won hearts on the Friends of Big Bear Valley Eagle Nest Cam. Now fans are rooting for Jackie.
Jackie the famed bald eagle of Big Bear Lake in Southern California has had a “life-saving” blood transfusion and is getting treatment for rodenticide, but her caregivers still don’t know what’s ailing her and she remains in an urgent care unit.
The mystery surrounding Jackie’s illness only deepened on July 23 after two wildlife agencies posted updates about how she’s doing. They announced that test results show that Jackie does not have lead poisoning, a common killer among bald eagles and other birds. Though they are giving her treatment for rodenticide poisoning, they don’t believe that’s what she has.
There are also no signs of cancer or metals, like fishing hooks. They’re still awaiting test results that would show whether she has zinc toxicity, which could be caused if Jackie ingested items including pennies and zinc-coated fencing or wires.
The 14-year-old bald eagle is 170 miles from her home, being assessed and treated at the Ojai Raptor Center after being rescued following an altercation with two subadult eagles, though it seems she’s suffering from something more complicated that preceded the fight. Since arriving at the raptor center, wildlife specialists there determined that she’s underweight, with severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys.
“Her condition remains critical at this time,” Eliza Cameron, hospital and rehabilitation manager for the Ojai Raptor Center, said in a video update on July 23.
“This is not a straightforward case so we’re consulting with several specialists,” Cameron said. “A treatment plan has been developed to ensure we are covering all bases while we work to determine the cause of anemia.”
Jackie’s millions of fans from around the world have never been more worried about the majestic raptor that captured their hearts as she laid or lost eggs, raised eaglets, fought off predators, braved winter storms, and hunted for fish over the years. They were able to see all the highs and lows thanks to a camera that has been livestreaming her nest since 2015.
The stress over Jackie’s condition was evident in a July 23 post from Friends of Big Bear Valley, the group that runs the nest camera and looks out for Jackie, her mate shadow and their offspring.
“She is still in guarded condition and can turn in a moment,” the group said. “Please keep Jackie and the rest of her family in your thoughts, sending positive energy and prayers.”
Though Jackie’s fans are losing sleep as they fret over her fate, wildlife officials did share some positive news about her condition, saying that she’s alert, perching and eating.
The Ojai Raptor Center said that a blood transfusion Jackie received from another eagle on July 20 was “life-saving” and improved her energy over the following days. She “remains bright and strong,” the group said.
“While we are encouraged by the dedication and collaboration surrounding this case, it is still too early to predict the outcome,” the center said. “We know many of you are hoping for more answers, and so are we. Wildlife medicine often requires patience, and some answers simply take time.”
The updates on Thursday didn’t provide much comfort to some of Jackie’s fans.
“I am prepared for a sad outcome,” Rebecca McNabb of Hickory, North Carolina, wrote on one of the updates. “I know whatever happens, she is in the hands of a medical team who will do their (darnedest) to save her.”
Another fan wondered: “Will there ever come a time when her rehabilitation reaches a point to where they can do no more, and release her even though she is not 100% and let nature take its course?”
Others, like Dee Michele, are more optimistic: “She is a spicy girl and no doubt has the resilience to beat this!”As Jackie fights for her life, her family is continuing on at Big Bear Lake.
Her steadfast mate, Shadow, is providing fish for their offspring Sandy and Luna, who are able to fly in and out of the family nest but are not yet believed to be catching their own food. The trio also have been defending the nest from other eagles and presumably wondering where their matriarch is.
“Keeping Jackie and the eagle medical team as well as Shadow and eaglets in my prayers,” Bonnie Brock of Pensacola, Florida, posted. “Hopefully for miraculous healing for Jackie, and a happy reunion with Shadow, Sandy and Luna.”
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations, breaking news − and sometimes eagles − for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat.
