Beloved Big Bear bald eagle Jackie dies after weeks of intensive care

Jackie, the bald eagle that has been a fixture of the Big Bear nest cam for more than a decade, died early Monday morning, officials said. The Ojai Raptor Center reported that her condition had continued to deteriorate over the past several days despite oxygen therapy, supportive treatment and round-the-clock monitoring in its intensive care unit.

"She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit," the center posted on Instagram.

The bird was rescued in mid-July after being spotted on the ground fighting two subadult eagles near Big Bear Lake. She was taken to the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinarians diagnosed severe anemia and kidney inflammation. A life-saving blood transfusion from another eagle, Spirit, was administered, and Jackie underwent CT imaging and a bone-marrow biopsy, but her packed cell volume remained dangerously low.

Her remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The center expressed sorrow, noting the global fan base that had followed her and her mate, Shadow, through live-streamed nesting seasons.

Jackie first appeared on the Big Bear nest camera after it was installed in 2015, though she is believed to have been born in the nest in 2011. Over the years she raised multiple eaglets, some of which became internet sensations. With her death, the future of the nest’s breeding program remains uncertain.