AI-generated fakes about Jackie the eagle are disrupting care at Ojai Raptor Center

The Ojai Raptor Center, the Ventura-area wildlife hospital caring for Jackie — the beloved bald eagle from Fawnskin — is sounding an alarm about a wave of AI-generated fake content spreading online about the eagle's condition, warning that the misinformation is beginning to interfere with her care.

Jackie arrived at the Raptor Center on July 17 after being injured in an altercation with two young eagles near her family nest in Fawnskin, in the San Bernardino Mountains[1]. Her condition has been closely watched by fans worldwide, and as of early August, her bloodwork had worsened since the center's last update[1].

That intense public interest has a downside. The center posted an AI-generated image of an eagle and a medical staffer — stamped "AI Fake" and "DO NOT believe everything you see on social media" — to illustrate the problem[1]. Staff say the flood of fabricated photos, videos, and articles circulating online has translated into real-world disruptions: repeated phone calls, unexpected visits to the facility, messages to staff's personal social media accounts, and in some cases contact at their private homes[1].

"We will always make decisions based on science and what is best for our patients, not what generates the next headline," the center said[1]. Staff acknowledged that the public's concern for Jackie comes from a genuine place, and the center said it appreciates that compassion — but stressed that wildlife medicine requires uninterrupted concentration and careful decision-making.

Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the local organization that has followed Jackie's story closely and maintains its own relationship with the Big Bear eagle-watching community, could not be reached for comment on the misinformation problem by publication time.

The Raptor Center says it will share meaningful updates only when accurate information is available[1]. In the meantime, residents and fans are urged to rely on official updates from the Ojai Raptor Center directly, rather than sharing unverified claims or AI-generated content[1].