Bald Eagle Jackie in Critical Condition After Rescue Near Big Bear Nest

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (KABC) — Jackie, the well-known Big Bear bald eagle followed by fans across Southern California and beyond, remains under veterinary care after being found injured and rescued. Officials say her condition is still critical.

The Ojai Raptor Center, where Jackie is receiving treatment, has characterized her case as “very serious.”

In an Instagram update, the center said Jackie is alert and eating, but she is also dealing with severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys. Additional test results are still pending as veterinarians work to determine what is causing her symptoms.

Among the possible concerns being evaluated are zinc levels, rodenticides and lead exposure.

“Wildlife medicine takes time, and some answers simply cannot be rushed. As we learn more about this patient’s condition, we will continue to share meaningful updates with you,” the center said.

What happened to Jackie?

According to the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, its San Dimas Raptor Rescue team rescued Jackie early Saturday morning and transported her to the rehabilitation facility for care. Before she was located, Jackie had not been seen at the Big Bear bald eagle nest for several days.

Video shared by the Department of Parks and Recreation showed an injured bald eagle, believed to be Jackie, struggling to get out of the water.

Friends of Big Bear Valley said the eagle had been in an altercation with two other, younger eagles at Dana Point Park. Cellphone video confirmed the bird “was able to fend off the other eagles by turning over and using its talons, but was unable to fly far away.”

“The eagle arrived lethargic and underweight, but has no signs of physical trauma,” said Eliza Cameron with the Ojai Raptor Center.

“She was very weak. Her feather condition was very disheveled, and she’s very underweight,” said Kristine Koh with San Dimas Raptor Rescue.

Eyewitness News spoke with Friends of Big Bear Valley about what led up to Jackie’s disappearance.

“Well, since the fireworks, we haven’t seen too much of Jackie. She did come to the nest on the 12th, and seemed to be quite hungry,” said Jenny Voisard with Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Voisard said a resident of Fawnskin spotted an eagle they believe to be Jackie in an altercation with two subadult eagles in the lake, not far from the nest.

Speculation quickly circulated online about the eagle’s identity. The nonprofit said Jackie hadn’t been seen for days at the nest she shares with her partner Shadow, which the nonprofit monitors via a live stream. Because she isn’t banded, it took some time for them to determine that it was her.

“She was able to defend herself from both of them. They were wanting her fish, and probably her territory, but she wasn’t able to fly away,” Voisard said.

The nonprofit said Jackie is in good hands.

“Just like when one of our loved ones is sick or in the hospital, and we’re in the waiting room, we just have to wait. Of course people are worried. People are praying. People are donating now to the rescue centers, so that’s great, because we need that. And we just have to lean on each other and stay positive,” Voisard said.

How could such a strong, grown-up eagle get compromised?

“There’s some clues in here. If a mature eagle was compromised, if it was injured, or if it was lead poisoned, for example, that could explain why it was unable to fly away,” said Dr. Todd Katzner, a prominent wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who specializes in eagle conservation.

Rescuers are testing Jackie for levels of zinc, rodenticides and lead. In his research, Dr. Katzner says environmental toxins are a huge issue plaguing eagles.

“An injury like this is probably human-associated in the beginning, and it’s a good reminder of the role that we play in the environment,” Dr. Katzner said.

Rescuers say it could take weeks, maybe longer, before we could see Jackie’s return.

The good news? Dr. Katzner says her eaglets, Luna and Sandy, are old enough to fly and fend for themselves with a little help from their dad, Shadow.

The Big Bear eagle cam gives us a peek into the story of Jackie and Shadow’s resilience, love and partnership.

“I think we should all be proud of birds like these, and remember that there are many tens or hundreds or thousands in California that are doing the same thing off-camera,” Dr. Katzner said.

Today, there are more than 70,000 bald eagle nesting pairs in the U.S. They’re thriving compared to the sparse population we had in the 1960s. It shows how small human actions can make a huge difference.

Dr. Katzner says he doesn’t use rodenticides in his home, and his friends who hunt use non-lead ammunition.

He says about 50% of bald eagles and golden eagles test positive for exposure to lead. In the U.S., it’s mainly from lead ammunition, which is banned from hunting in California. Tests show about 89% of eagles test positive for rodenticides.