Jackie the bald eagle: what we know about her illness, death, and what comes next

Jackie, the bald eagle who spent more than a decade nesting along the shores of Big Bear Lake and became one of the most watched birds in North America, died in the early morning hours of August 10, 2026, at the Ojai Raptor Center after more than three weeks of intensive medical care.[1] She was approximately 14 years old, but her body, worn by illness, could not hold on.[1]

Wildlife experts at the Ojai Raptor Center have since released a detailed FAQ addressing the many questions Jackie's followers have asked about her final days. Here is what we know.

How Jackie got sick

Jackie was found grounded and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake on July 18, 2026, after a confrontation with two younger, subadult bald eagles.[1] But the fight itself wasn't what brought her down. Veterinarians who examined her found no injuries from the altercation. Instead, she was already suffering from severe anemia, emaciation, dehydration, and abnormal kidney and lung findings — a constellation of systemic problems that suggested something had been wrong for some time.[1]

What doctors tried — and why they couldn't save her

Jackie's care drew together a remarkable coalition of expertise: the Ojai Raptor Center, the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, the California Living Museum (CALM) Zoo, the Scientific Advisory Council, and avian specialists from across North America.[1] She received blood transfusions, oxygen therapy, CT imaging, a bone marrow biopsy, steroid therapy, and more. Despite all of it, veterinary experts were never able to pinpoint a single cause for her decline.[1] What they found was a troubling picture: severe anemia, blood clots in her wing and one kidney, liver abnormalities, and a bone marrow system that simply wasn't producing enough new red blood cells to keep up.[1]

After 23 days of treatment, Jackie could no longer keep food down, and her packed cell volume — a key measure of red blood cell levels — dropped sharply. She died naturally in the early morning hours of August 10.[1]

What happens to her now

Under federal law, Jackie's remains will be transferred to the National Eagle Repository, where eagle feathers, parts, and remains are distributed to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes for spiritual and religious practices.[1] The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance performed a necropsy, but as of August 12, no findings had been released.[1] Those results could shed light on the underlying cause of Jackie's illness — and the Big Bear community should watch for that report.

Her family, and her legacy

There is at least one piece of good news in this story. Jackie and Shadow's eaglets Sandy and Luna were last spotted on the Friends of Big Bear Valley live eagle cam on July 23, 2026 — a sign that both young birds have successfully fledged and set out on their own.[1] Shadow, Jackie's longtime mate, has occasionally appeared on the cam as well.

Jackie's legacy runs deep in this valley. She is known to have laid 25 eggs over the years, with ten eaglets hatched and named — from BBB and Stormy in the early years to Sandy and Luna most recently.[1] The Ojai Raptor Center put it plainly: "Her greatest legacy is the connection she created between people and the natural world."[1]

What to watch for

The most significant missing piece right now is the necropsy report from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, which could reveal whether Jackie was suffering from a toxin, disease, or other condition that wildlife managers should know about.[1] Big Bear News will report on those findings when they are released. In the meantime, residents who want to support the organizations that cared for Jackie and continue to monitor Big Bear's eagle population can find the Friends of Big Bear Valley at friendsofbigbearvalley.org and the Ojai Raptor Center at ojairaptorcenter.org.