One of California’s most famous and beloved bald eagles – Jackie – has sadly passed away.
Big Bear Lake, located in The Golden State, has been home to two certifiable celebrities over the past couple of years: Jackie and Shadow. People on the internet fell in love with the pair of bald eagles after Friends of Big Bear Valley set up a nature camera facing towards their nest. The nonprofit is the one that set up the camera on the nest, which Jackie and Shadow have been utilizing it to birth many eaglets in the past couple of years.
It was just earlier this year in April that the famous baldie couple welcomed eaglets. And all was well with Jackie and Shadow in the months following, until Jackie went missing in early July.
Jackie apparently got into a spar with a pair of younger eagles. The attack left her injured, and unable to fly back to Shadow and the nest they share. A rehab facility known as the Ojai Raptor Center took the famous baldie in, and they initially let the public know that Jackie – whom they referred to as Patient 26-519 – was in critical condition. The baldie was suffering from severe anemia and inflammation of her kidneys. They referred to Jackie’s health as a “very serious case,” and made sure to do all they could to stabilize the bald eagle.
Despite all of their best efforts, and over three straight weeks of intensive care, the rehab facility could not get Jackie’s health under control. Over the weekend, they shared some tough news that Jackie had taken a turn for the worse:
“The past 24 hours have been incredibly difficult. Patient 26-519 remains critically ill, and her condition is currently unstable. Yesterday, her packed cell volume (PCV) fell below 6%. Today it has risen to 9%. While this is a small improvement, her PCV remains critically low and her overall condition remains extremely serious.
Her care and condition are being closely evaluated by a collaborative team that includes nine veterinarians, together with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.”
Veterinarians and representatives of the U.S. and California Fish and Wildlife Services were doing all they could to save the bald eagle’s life.
Unfortunately, Jackie’s injuries and conditions were too much to overcome. The Ojai Raptor Center took to social media today to share that the famous bald eagle had passed away:
“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. Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists. She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit.
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. Her remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
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.
Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her. We ask for patience and kindness as our staff process this loss. We are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and will provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results.
To everyone who cared about Patient 26-519, thank you. Thank you for your messages, your prayers, your encouragement, and for standing beside our team throughout these past weeks. We are deeply grateful for the way Patient 26-519 brought people together through a shared love of wildlife.”
So incredibly sad.
Especially so for Shadow, who has been guarding the nest and awaiting the return of his mate (bald eagles mate for life). Nature is a brutal place, and this loss – which will feel like a loss of a loved one to those who have followed along closely with Jackie and Shadow’s story – is definitely proof of that.
RIP Jackie.
