Jackie the beloved bald eagle dies

It’s a heartbreaking day for fans of the Big Bear bald eagle nest.

The Ojai Raptor Center announced Monday that Jackie, the beloved bald eagle who captured the hearts of thousands of viewers around the world, has died following a weeks-long battle with severe illness.😢

Jackie was brought to the rescue center on July 18 after she was found unable to fly following an attack by two juvenile bald eagles along the shores of Big Bear Lake.

Since then, fans have closely followed updates on her condition, hoping she would recover and eventually return to the wild and reunite with her longtime mate, Shadow.

But after more than three weeks of intensive medical care, those hopes were shattered.

“It is with profound sadness that we share that Patient 26-519 passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care,” the Ojai Raptor Center said.

The veterinary team said Jackie’s condition had continued to deteriorate in recent days despite intensive treatment and the efforts of its veterinary staff and outside specialists.

In an update Sunday, veterinarians said the previous 24 hours had been “incredibly difficult.” Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV, had fallen below 6% before rising slightly to 9%.

“While this is a small improvement, her PCV remains critically low and her overall condition remains extremely serious,” the center said at the time.

Jackie remained critically ill in the center’s intensive care unit, where she received oxygen therapy, supportive treatment and around-the-clock monitoring.

“Throughout her time at Ojai Raptor Center, every decision was guided by the available medical evidence, her welfare, and our responsibility to do what was in her best interest,” the center said.

Jackie’s remains have been transferred to the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The news has devastated the thousands of people who had followed Jackie’s journey and hoped for her recovery.

“We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her,” the Ojai Raptor Center said. “Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her.”

The center also thanked Jackie’s supporters for the outpouring of messages, prayers and encouragement throughout her treatment.

“We are deeply grateful for the way Patient 26-519 brought people together through a shared love of wildlife,” the center said.

Jackie was believed to be about 14 years old. Bald eagles typically live 15 to 25 years in the wild.

She leaves behind her mate, Shadow, as well as several eaglets, including Sandy and Luna.

Jackie’s death comes during a period of major changes at the Big Bear nest. Sandy and Luna recently appeared to leave the area, marking a bittersweet milestone for the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, which operates the live eagle camera.

“It appears they have left the valley on their grand journey,” FOBBV said. “We wish them both the best on their future adventures!”

With the eaglets gone, Shadow has seemingly begun his own “summer vacation.” According to FOBBV, he was spotted flying through the habitat early Thursday morning before landing in one of his favorite perch trees.

For years, Jackie and Shadow became familiar faces to people around the world thanks to the live web camera focused on their nest in the Big Bear Lake area.

Their lives, their eaglets and their day-to-day routines gave viewers an intimate glimpse into the world of bald eagles—and brought people together through a shared love of wildlife.

For Jackie’s many fans, her passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter and the loss of an eagle who became much more than a bird on a livestream. She became a beloved symbol of the wild and a part of countless people’s daily lives.