Bald eagle Jackie dies after more than 3 weeks of intensive care
Jackie’s health concerns began in mid-July. The famous Big Bear Lake bald eagle was undergoing treatment at The Ojai Raptor Center and died on Aug. 10.
Jackie and Shadow, two bald eagles made world-famous by the Friends of Big Bear Valley livestream, will soon become parents to eaglets once again.
Jackie, the bald eagle whose nest with mate Shadow has captivated viewers around the world, died early Monday after more than three weeks of intensive medical care.
The Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie, identified by the facility as Patient 26-519, had remained critically ill in recent days while receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment and around-the-clock monitoring.
The center said her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of its veterinary team and consulting specialists.
“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 California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Ojai Raptor Center said it is working closely with CDFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and plans to release a more comprehensive statement with additional information about her treatments and test results.
The cause of the illness that led to Jackie’s death has not yet been announced.
After a happy nesting season, a turn for the worse
Jackie tends to her egg on Feb. 24, 2026. (FOBBV)
Her health problems began in mid-July. On July 17, an adult bald eagle was observed on the ground near Dana Point Park in Big Bear Lake after being spotted there the previous day. The eagle was later involved in a brief ground altercation with two subadult eagles and was unable to fly far afterward.
The bird was picked up by LA County Parks San Dimas Raptor Rescue and transferred for specialty care before being identified as Jackie.
Her illness followed an otherwise successful nesting season. Sandy and Luna, Jackie and Shadow’s two chicks from 2026, took their first flights from the nest in late June. Jackie and Shadow had previously fledged Simba, Spirit, Sunny and Gizmo.
Jackie is believed to have been the first bald eagle to hatch and fledge in Big Bear. She and Shadow became one of the country’s best-known bald eagle pairs through the Friends of Big Bear Valley livestream cameras overlooking their nest in Southern California’s San Bernardino National Forest.
The Ojai Raptor Center acknowledged the widespread following Jackie developed and the concern surrounding her illness.
“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 center said.“ Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her.”
Report a Typo
