BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., Aug. 10 (Our Hesperia) — Bald eagle Jackie, a longtime resident of California’s Big Bear Valley, died Aug. 10 after her health continued to worsen during more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the Ojai Raptor Center said.
The center identified the bird as Patient 26-519. Her remains were transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which may help determine more about the illness that preceded her death.
The Ojai Raptor Center said it planned to issue a fuller statement about Jackie’s treatment and test results. The center has not announced a cause of illness or death.
What happened to Jackie?
Jackie was rescued July 17 by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team. She had been found weak and unable to fly near the Dana Point Park area by Big Bear Lake after an apparent fight with two subadult eagles, according to rescue and medical information shared by the Ojai Raptor Center.
Chris Eksteen, the center’s executive director, told the Los Angeles Times that the fight likely left Jackie grounded but did not explain her other symptoms. He said the bird appeared to have been unwell before she was found.
Jackie was then taken to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment. Initial bloodwork showed severe anemia, meaning she had an abnormally low level of red blood cells or hemoglobin. The tests also showed inflammation affecting her kidneys, the center said in a July 21 update.
Why was her condition so serious?
Jackie received a blood transfusion, oxygen therapy and other supportive care. She was monitored around the clock in the center’s intensive care unit. Her treatment was reviewed by a team that included nine veterinarians, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the center.
Veterinarians tracked Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV. This measurement estimates the share of blood made up of red blood cells. A low PCV can indicate severe anemia and can limit the amount of oxygen carried through the body.
The center reported that Jackie’s PCV fell to 13% on Aug. 3. It dropped below 6% on Aug. 8, then rose to 9% on Aug. 9. The center said a desired level was above 30%, but described Jackie as critically ill and unstable even after the increase.
The center also reported additional diagnostic work, including a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy. The available updates do not include the results of those tests.
What is known about the cause?
The cause of Jackie’s illness had not been announced when the Ojai Raptor Center reported her death. The reported fight with other eagles may explain how she was found unable to fly, but officials have not said that it caused the anemia, kidney inflammation or later decline.
The center said its decisions were based on the available medical evidence, Jackie’s welfare and what it believed was in her best interest. It said her condition continued to deteriorate despite treatment and consultations with specialists.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife now has Jackie’s remains. The supplied statements do not say whether a necropsy or toxicology testing will be conducted, or when state wildlife officials might release findings.
Why was Jackie well known?
Jackie was associated with a bald eagle nest in Big Bear Valley and her life with her partner, Shadow. Friends of Big Bear Valley operated livestream cameras focused on the nest, allowing viewers to follow the birds’ activity over time.
Her death concerns one well-known eagle, not evidence by itself of a broader change in California’s bald eagle population or an environmental trend. The available information includes no population-monitoring data or ecological study linking Jackie’s illness to weather, climate or another wider cause.
