Jackie, the celebrated bald eagle who became a viral sensation through her appearances on the Big Bear Valley Eagle Nest Cam, has died. The Ojai Raptor Center, where the eagle was undergoing rehabilitation, confirmed her passing following a period of critical illness and instability. Her remains have since been transferred into the custody of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The center had reported in its final update on August 9 that the eagle was in a critically ill and unstable state.
The events leading to Jackie's death began on July 17, when she was observed in an "altercation" with two subadult eagles. Although she successfully defended herself during the encounter, she did not travel far and was later discovered on the ground near Dana Point Park. She was subsequently rescued and transported to the Ojai Raptor Center, located approximately 170 miles from her home in Big Bear Valley, which she shared with her long-term partner, Shadow.
Upon her arrival, veterinary teams began a rigorous, round-the-clock effort to diagnose and treat her condition. Initial bloodwork indicated that Jackie was suffering from severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys. Over the course of several weeks, she underwent extensive testing and supportive care, receiving guidance from wildlife professionals across the globe.
On July 20, she received a life-saving blood transfusion from another eagle and was provided with oxygen therapy. While she also received treatment for potential rodenticide toxicity—a condition occurring when nontarget animals ingest rat or mouse poisons—caregivers noted that they did not believe this was the primary cause of her illness.
Extensive diagnostic testing successfully ruled out other common threats such as lead poisoning, cancer, and metal objects. On July 23, wildlife agencies confirmed that test results showed Jackie did not have lead poisoning, which is a common killer among bald eagles.
The medical team, which included nine veterinarians and representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, monitored her closely. In her final days, her condition remained volatile; the Ojai Raptor Center reported that her packed cell volume had fallen below 6% on August 8, though it saw a slight rise to 9% on August 9. The facility had noted that the previous 24 hours had been incredibly difficult and that her condition remained extremely serious.
Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the organization managing the live nest camera, expressed deep sorrow over her loss in a Facebook post, encouraging fans to be kind to themselves, the FOBBV team, and the staff at the Ojai Raptor Center. "Soar free Jackie," the center stated. Sandy Steers, a Big Bear resident and executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, had lived half a mile from where Jackie was born and watched her grow up from a distance.
It was through the efforts of Steers and a U.S. Forest Service employee that the solar-powered webcam was installed, eventually providing millions of viewers with a window into Jackie’s life. Steers described Jackie as "very determined, very serious, and she expects to get her way."
Jackie was the first eaglet known to have hatched in Big Bear Valley in 2012. Her parents, Ricky and Lucy, were the first adults documented to reside in the valley year-round, as the area had previously served only as a winter destination for the species. Jackie lived in relative obscurity before the webcam was installed. She found her first romance in 2017 when she mated with an eagle named Mr.
B. The couple's eggs hatched in 2018; while one eaglet died after a 24-hour rainstorm, the other, named Stormy, survived and left Big Bear that summer. Soon after, Shadow arrived, chased off Mr. B, and became Jackie's long-term partner. The pair have been together ever since and have shared eight eaglets.
As Jackie underwent treatment, her most recent eaglets, Sandy and Luna, appeared to have moved toward independence, as they were last seen on the camera on July 23. Shadow has continued to be seen on the camera occasionally during his "summer vacation." Meanwhile, the presence of a new, younger female eagle near Shadow has sparked concern among fans, with some calling the new bird "Jolene." While wildlife professionals have taken issue with the nickname, they have acknowledged the new eagle's interest in Shadow.
Jenny Voisard, a spokeswoman for Friends of Big Bear Valley, noted that the new eagle is "obviously gravitating towards him." Experts, however, believe Shadow is unlikely to be ready to move on from his decade-long bond with Jackie.
"Initial bloodwork" had indicated Jackie was "experiencing severe anemia and inflammation affecting the kidneys," the center said on July 21. Vets had begun "supportive treatment based on the information available," with guidance from wildlife professionals globally.
Big Bear resident Sandy Steers, who was also the executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, lived half a mile from where Jackie was born and watched her grow up from a distance. It was Steers, and a U.S. Forest Service employee, who got the idea to put up a webcam. It took two years to raise the $10,000 needed t
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