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BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. () — New details shared by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are shedding light on how beloved Big Bear bald eagle Jackie’s condition deteriorated in the days leading up to her death. We’re also learning where Jackie’s remains will be sent.
In a press release published on Tuesday, the CDFW said Jackie died in the overnight hours of Aug. 9 while receiving intensive medical care at the Ojai Raptor Center, where she had been for over three weeks.
READ MORE: Beloved Big Bear eagle Jackie dies after prolonged illness, wildlife officials say
Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle Jackie, who had been receiving intensive medical care for a prolonged illness, has died. See the timeline of her rescue and treatment here.
In recent days, vet teams discovered that Jackie experienced additional health challenges in addition to her previously diagnosed anemia and kidney inflammation. The CDFW shared that Jackie had a large blood clot in her wing and kidney, liver abnormalities, lung abnormalities and inadequate bone marrow response.
The Ojai Raptor Center also shared that Jackie was unable to keep food down after 23 days in treatment, and that’s when she experienced a significant decline in her packed cell volume (PCV).
In her three weeks at the Ojai Raptor Center, Jackie “underwent additional diagnostic testing, including a contrast CT scan, bone marrow biopsy and specialized testing for heavy metals.” The vet team worked closely with specialists across the country to evaluate the findings and work to determine what was causing her illness.
Now, a necropsy will be performed by veterinary pathologists at the San Diego Wildlife Alliance, according to the CDFW.
The Ojai Raptor Center published a detailed page on its website about Jackie and her treatment at the facility. The page includes an FAQ, photos, and will soon include a detailed veterinary medical journal.
What will happen to Jackie’s remains?
According to the CDFW, in compliance with federal law, Jackie’s remains will be transported to the National Eagle Repository in Colorado, which is a “one-of-a-kind facility operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement.”
The repository “receives, evaluates, stores, and distributes eagle remains, parts, and feathers to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes throughout the United States for religious, cultural, and ceremonial purposes.” The CDFW added that it also offers educational programs that promote understanding and conservation of bald and golden eagles.
In a post on social media, Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the nonprofit that operates the eagle nest camera where Jackie became famous, noted that it does not have any input on how Jackie’s remains are handled.
What will happen to Jackie’s mate, Shadow, after her death?
With Jackie’s death, many fans of the beloved bald eagle couple are worried about what will come next for Shadow, her mate of eight years.
FOBBV says quite a few visiting eagles are in the area right now, and it’s unknown if Shadow will stick around.
SEE ALSO: Big Bear eagles: What’s next for Shadow after death of his mate Jackie?
Now that beloved bald eagle Jackie is gone, what happens next in the Big Bear nest is unclear. What’s next for Shadow?
“Another juvenile hopped into the nest yesterday, so nature continues to journey on and unfold, and we’ll be here to watch,” said Jenny Voisard with FOBBV.
Voisard said Shadow will do what he feels he should, but it’s hard to predict.
“He was very set on being here when he came to the territory in 2018, so we don’t know if that means he’ll want to stay. It very well could,” she said.
As for finding a potential new mate, nesting season is not usually until late fall.
“It could be that he will take a new mate. If that’s the case, then we will love her, too, and we will cheer her on. So we’ll just have to watch and see. There’s many visiting eagles in the area right now. We’ve been seeing a lot of activity on our habitat cam,” Voisard said.
Jackie’s legacy impacts adoring fans across the world
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is among the countless people paying tribute to Jackie. He says Jackie reminded Californians of the beauty of the state’s wildlife and the importance of protecting it.
“California mourns Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle who reminded us of the beauty and wonder of California’s wildlife, and our shared responsibility to protect the habitats that sustain it,” Newsom said. “We’re grateful to the Ojai Raptor Center and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who partnered with our California Department of Fish and Wildlife to help Jackie in her time of need.”
A global case of empty nest syndrome is sweeping around the world after the death of 14-year-old Jackie, who touched the young and old alike.
Jackie became the first documented bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear Valley in the summer of 2012. Eventually, her parents, Ricky and Lucy, moved on, but much to the surprise of wildlife experts, Jackie returned to her home nest and started her life.
After FOBBV installed a live camera on the nest in October 2015, fans got to have an up-close look at her life as she took on mates, raised eaglets, lost eggs, survived extreme weather and more.
RELATED: Bald eagle Jackie’s death turns into lesson in nature and grief for SoCal students
For students at Graciano Gomez Elementary School in San Bernardino, Jackie’s death has been a lesson in nature, perseverance and grief.
“Sadly, Jackie is no longer with us,” said Gomez Elementary fifth-grader Aaliyah Richardson. “Even though she might not be with us physically, she’s still with us emotionally, in our hearts.”
The student body at Gomez Elementary in San Bernardino has kept an eagle eye on Jackie and Shadow over the years. It’s no surprise since their school mascot is an eagle.
On Tuesday, the students colored farewell cards for Jackie.
“I think of Jackie as our hero, our symbol of freedom, our symbol of strength, because that’s what bald eagles are to us locally and historically,” said fifth-grade teacher Carmen Espinosa.
“People come together over their shared love for her and Shadow, and it’s beautiful,” Voisard said.
Voisard says as the live view of the eagles spread around the world, countless people leaned on Jackie for emotional support.
READ MORE: Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle left lasting impact on fans, environmentalists
With the death of Jackie, one half of Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle couple, reactions are pouring in from fans around the world
One person posted on social media, “I watched Jackie and Shadow 24/7. Watching them helped with my depression.”
Through Jackie and Shadow, others discovered the importance of conservation.
“Jackie and Shadow are great ambassadors for nature. They teach us that we need to be thoughtful and have care for the world around us, because that’s their world too, and we all need to share it,” Voisard said.
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