CA Bald Eagle Jackie, Star Of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam, Dies After Weeks Of Intensive Care

OJAI, CA. (THECOUNT) — Jackie, the beloved bald eagle presumed to be one half of California’s famous Big Bear Valley nest-cam pair, has died after more than three weeks of intensive medical treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center.

The Ojai Raptor Center announced Monday, Aug. 10, that Patient 26-519 died in the early morning hours after her condition deteriorated despite treatment from the center’s veterinary team and consulting specialists. The center said she remained critically ill and was receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment and around-the-clock monitoring in its intensive care unit.

Jackie became the subject of worldwide attention after she was found injured and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake in Southern California in July. Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit organization that operates the Big Bear eagle nest cameras and livestreams, said the rescued eagle was likely Jackie after reviewing photographs and videos of the bird.

Friends of Big Bear Valley previously reported that an adult bald eagle had been seen in a brief ground altercation with two subadult eagles before being rescued. The bird was initially transported to San Dimas Raptor Rescue before being transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for further treatment.

Ojai veterinarians subsequently determined that Patient 26-519 was suffering from severe anemia and kidney inflammation. Her condition remained critical throughout much of her treatment, although she experienced periods of improvement.

At one point, Jackie received a blood transfusion made possible by Spirit, a bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. The Ojai Raptor Center also worked with veterinary specialists and wildlife officials as it sought to determine the underlying cause of her declining health.

Earlier in August, the center reported that Jackie had undergone advanced diagnostic testing, including a contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy. Additional specialized testing remained pending as veterinarians evaluated the results.

By Aug. 9, the center said her packed cell volume, a measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in her blood, had fallen below 6 percent before increasing to 9 percent. Despite that improvement, her condition remained extremely serious. Her care was being overseen by a collaborative team that included nine veterinarians, along with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Jackie and her longtime mate, Shadow, became internationally known through the live cameras operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley at their nest in the San Bernardino National Forest. The pair attracted millions of viewers who followed their nesting activity and the development of their eaglets.

The eagle pair welcomed three chicks in 2025, although one died during a winter storm. They welcomed two additional chicks earlier this year, continuing a nesting cycle that had made the Big Bear Valley cameras a popular destination for wildlife viewers around the world.

Jackie’s remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the Ojai Raptor Center. The center said it is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California wildlife officials and plans to provide a more comprehensive statement with additional information about her treatment and test results.

The Ojai Raptor Center thanked the many people who followed Jackie’s recovery and supported the teams caring for her. The center said the eagle had brought people together through a shared interest in wildlife.

Friends of Big Bear Valley has continued documenting Shadow and the remaining eaglets at the nest following Jackie’s disappearance and subsequent rescue. The organization’s earlier updates described Shadow continuing to care for the young eagles while Jackie was receiving treatment.

Jackie’s death closes a difficult chapter for the widely followed Big Bear Valley eagle family, whose nesting activity has been watched by people around the world for years.

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