Jackie the bald eagle dies after three weeks of intensive care

Jackie, the bald eagle who became a beloved symbol of Big Bear Valley and an international wildlife celebrity, died on August 10, 2026, after three weeks of intensive treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center in Ventura County[1]. She had lived around Big Bear for at least 15 years[1].

Jackie's health crisis began when she was found grounded near Big Bear Lake after an encounter with two younger eagles. The San Dimas Raptor Rescue team, operating under Los Angeles County parks officials, transported her on July 18[1]. Veterinarians diagnosed her on July 21 with severe anemia and kidney inflammation[1]. Two days later, on July 23, she received a blood transfusion from Spirit, a female eagle housed at CALM Zoo in Bakersfield. While Jackie showed brief improvement, her packed cell volume had fallen back to a critically low level by August 9[1].

Throughout her stay, Jackie received oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in the Ojai Raptor Center's intensive care unit[1]. The center said every medical decision was guided by available evidence and Jackie's welfare[1]. "Our team is heartbroken," the center wrote in a statement. "It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her."[1]

A mountain icon watched by the world

Jackie's fame grew from a camera installed by Friends of Big Bear Valley in 2015 — the Big Bear Bald Eagle Live nest cam, which let viewers around the world watch her, her mates, and her eaglets in real time[1]. For more than a decade, the feed became a shared ritual for classrooms, families, and bird enthusiasts who followed Jackie and her partner Shadow as they raised eaglets Sandy and Luna[1].

Jackie's remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a step that could help specialists better understand the cause of her prolonged illness and improve care for other raptors in the future[1]. Friends of Big Bear Valley, who operated the nest cam and tracked Jackie's condition throughout her illness, had not issued a public statement that could be confirmed at the time of publication.

For those who want to stay connected to Big Bear's eagle family, the nest cam at Friends of Big Bear Valley remains a resource for updates on Shadow and future nesting seasons.