Beloved Big Bear bald eagle Jackie remains critically ill and ‘unstable’ as blood levels continue to fall, vet team says

OJAI, Calif. () — Beloved Big Bear bald eagle Jackie remains critically ill as she receives treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center, according to an update released on Sunday.

“The past 24 hours have been incredibly difficult,” the wildlife rescue wrote in an update on social media.

The vet team described Jackie’s condition as “unstable” in the latest update, noting that her packed cell volume (PCV) fell below 6% on Saturday. The Ojai Raptor Center said it rose to 9% on Sunday, but while that is a small improvement, her PCV remains critically low, and her overall condition remains “extremely serious.”

The video above is from a previous report.

PCV measures the percentage of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

“At this time, there is no further medical update we can provide. Our entire focus remains on Patient 26-519’s welfare and providing the care she needs,” the Ojai Raptor Center wrote in the latest update. “Every decision continues to be guided by her medical condition and what is in her best interest.”

The rescue center noted that Jackie’s care and condition are being closely evaluated by a collaborative team that includes nine veterinarians, plus representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

On Friday, the vet team shared that Jackie was continuing to receive oxygen therapy in their intensive care unit as her PCV values began to fall, indicating her anemia had worsened.

The wildlife center said new diagnostic procedures had yielded important information as veterinarians continue trying to determine the cause of her illness. They did not provide further details on what new information was discovered.

“This week’s contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy have provided important new information, while additional specialized testing remains pending,” the center said on Friday. “Our veterinary team continues to work closely with specialists across the country as we evaluate these findings and determine the next steps in her care.”

After Jackie was discovered grounded near Big Bear Lake and rescued three weeks ago, experts said she was anemic with inflammation affecting her kidneys. She previously received a life-saving blood transfusion from a fellow female eagle named Spirit, a resident at CALM Zoo in Bakersfield.

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Jackie is one half of the well-known bald eagle pair featured on Friends of Big Bear Valley’s (FOBBV) live nest camera alongside her mate, Shadow.

Officials said additional testing is still pending.

“We will share another update when we have meaningful information to provide,” the center wrote.

The couple’s nest has been empty as of late. On Thursday, a subadult eagle, about 4 years old, was seen spending some time on the nest. FOBBV said it isn’t uncommon for visitors to stop by the nest in the offseason.

As for Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets that hatched earlier this year, Sandy and Luna, they haven’t been seen on the cameras since July 23, and it’s possible they’ve left the Big Bear area for good to start their own journeys.

“They can fly far and wide. So they can fly all the way up to Yellowstone or even Canada,” said Jenny Voisard, spokesperson for Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Since mating season doesn’t begin until the end of autumn, Jackie has some time to recover, and officials say time is on their side.

Meanwhile, FOBBV describes this time before mating season as a “vacation” for Jackie and Shadow, meaning it is normal for Shadow to not been seen around and in the nest.

He was spotted, however, perching in a nearby tree on Thursday, according to FOBBV.

Full timeline of Jackie’s rescue and recovery

July 12

• Friends of Big Bear Valley says Jackie was seen on the bald eagle nest camera and “seemed to be quite hungry.” The nonprofit notes that she hadn’t been seen around the nest much since July 4th fireworks.

July 17

• Witnesses spot an eagle in a fight with two subadult eagles near Big Bear Lake. At the time, wildlife experts weren’t sure if it was Jackie.




• A couple finds Jackie weak and unable to fly near the lake. They call for help and stay near her until a team arrives to rescue her.

July 18

• The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team arrives at Big Bear Lake early in the morning to rescue Jackie and take her to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment.

July 19

• Friends of Big Bear Valley says it believes the eagle rescued and taken to Ojai for treatment is, in fact, Jackie.

July 20

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares that a full medical assessment is underway on Jackie and says she is receiving “outstanding veterinary care from our team.”

July 21

• The veterinary care team reveals that Jackie is “experiencing severe anemia and inflammation affecting the kidneys.” Jackie being anemic means the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues.




• The Ojai Raptor Center notes that her condition remains critical.

July 23

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares that Jackie received a life-saving blood transfusion from Spirit, a fellow bald eagle who lives at the CALM Zoo in Bakersfield.




• They also share that Jackie underwent advanced CT imaging, helping the team rule out “lead toxicosis and the presence of foreign items such as fishing hooks, lines, and weights.”




• They also note that her kidney inflammation has improved, though she remains in the intensive care unit.

July 25

• Jackie experiences a setback when her blood values decline again following her transfusion.

July 27

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares a positive update that Jackie is showing encouraging improvement following her blood transfusion and weekend setback. Video shared by the team shows Jackie eating with and without assistance, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at her blood transfusion.




• The team notes that Jackie’s packed cell volume (PCV), which measures the percentage of red blood cells in her bloodstream, has increased from 8% to 16%




• The Ojai Raptor Center notes that despite testing, a definitive diagnosis is still not determined.

July 29

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares another positive update, this time saying Jackie has been moved out of the intensive care unit, where she required oxygen therapy, and into a regular hospital care unit.




• They note that although it is an encouraging sign, it does not mean she is out of danger.

July 31

• The vet teams share that Jackie’s bloodwork continues to show anemia, although her PCV has improved to 17%.




• They note that she is still a very sick patient and “has a long recovery road ahead.”

Aug. 1

• Jackie officially hits two weeks in the care of the Ojai Raptor Center.

Aug. 3

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares that Jackie’s PCV had dropped down to 13%, which means her anemia has worsened.




• The team says advanced diagnostic testing is underway and expedited laboratory testing has been requested.




• Video shared by the team shows Jackie having her blood drawn.

Aug. 5

• Vet teams share that Jackie underwent a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy. They said she recovered well from the anesthesia and was moved back to her recovery enclosure, receiving supplemental oxygen.




• The Ojai Raptor Center says its team is reviewing the findings of the scans, as well as her previous test results.




• Photos shared on social media show the process of Jackie’s CT scan and biopsy.

Aug. 7

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares that Jackie has been moved back to the intensive care unit, receiving oxygen therapy and around-the-clock monitoring.




• The vet team says her PCV fell below 10% overnight, meaning her anemia worsened and she remains in critical condition.




• The team says the contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy have provided “important new information,” but more specific details are not shared.




• Despite the “new information,” the team says it still does not have a complete understanding of Jackie’s worsening condition, and says further heavy metal testing has been ordered.

Aug. 9

• The Ojai Raptor Center shares that Jackie remains critically ill and describes her condition as “unstable.”




• The team says her PCV fell below 6% on Saturday and, though it rose to 9% on Sunday, the level remains critically low.




• The team says Jackie’s overall condition remains “extremely serious.”