Bald eagle rescued near Big Bear Lake receives care at Ojai Raptor Center
A weakened bald eagle, believed to be the nest-cam bird Jackie, was rescued from Big Bear Lake and transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment, while officials investigate the cause of its decline.
A bald eagle found weak and disheveled along the shoreline of Big Bear Lake early Saturday was rescued by the San Dimas Raptor Rescue and taken to a rehabilitation center operated by Los Angeles County Parks. The bird, which appears to be the nest-cam eagle known as Jackie, was examined by volunteer rehab manager Kristine Koh, who noted the raptor was underweight, had mud-caked feet and unkempt feathers, but showed no obvious fractures or wounds.
"We already knew she was sick or injured," Koh said.
Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that runs the nest cam, identified the bird as likely Jackie after reviewing images supplied by rescuers and the public. The organization’s media manager, Jenny Voisard, said the identification was based on facial features and the recent absence of Jackie on the cameras, which has left her mate, Shadow, to care for their two eaglets alone.
Los Angeles County officials noted that the sex of the eagle could not be confirmed, as bald eagles lack external genitalia, and that the rescue team sometimes used feminine pronouns for convenience.
Because the San Dimas rescue is not permitted to hold bald eagles long-term, the bird was transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for further medical assessment and veterinary care. The Ojai center reported that a full evaluation is underway and that donations are being accepted to support the eagle’s treatment.
The cause of the eagle’s condition remains uncertain. Video footage from the previous week shows Jackie engaged in aerial conflicts with younger eagles, which may have contributed to her weakened state. Rescue staff also mentioned lead poisoning as a possible factor, citing the prevalence of lead fishing tackle in Big Bear Lake and its known risk to raptors.
"Unfortunately, raptors get lead poisoning often, and that’s one of the problems we deal with," Koh said.
The Ojai Raptor Center indicated that treatment for lead poisoning is possible, though recovery is not guaranteed.