OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle known for her connection to Big Bear Valley’s nest-cam, remains in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinarians are providing intensive treatment and monitoring.
The latest update from the center said Jackie’s anemia had worsened. Her packed cell volume, or PCV, fell to 13% after earlier rising from 8% to 16%. PCV measures the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells. A low result can indicate anemia, a condition in which the blood carries less oxygen than normal.
Ojai Raptor Center said advanced diagnostic and laboratory testing was underway. The center has not identified the underlying cause of Jackie’s anemia or kidney inflammation.
What changed in Jackie’s condition?
Jackie had shown several signs of improvement after receiving a blood transfusion. The center reported that she was eating on her own and had more energy and alertness. Her PCV rose to 16% after a weekend setback.
The transfusion used blood from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. Ojai Raptor Center described the treatment as an important milestone, but cautioned that Jackie remained seriously ill.
Jackie was later moved from the intensive-care unit to a regular hospital care unit because she no longer needed oxygen therapy. Ojai Raptor Center said at the time that she still required intensive treatment and monitoring.
The later drop in PCV to 13% marked a setback. The available updates do not say whether Jackie returned to intensive care after the decline, or provide a current prognosis or expected release date.
What is known about her illness?
Ojai Raptor Center has reported anemia and inflammation affecting Jackie’s kidneys. Testing ruled out lead poisoning, known as lead toxicosis, as well as foreign objects such as fishing hooks, lines and weights.
The center has not confirmed another cause. Earlier reports mentioned testing for possible exposure to substances including zinc or rodenticide, but the available updates do not provide results from those tests.
That uncertainty is not unusual in wildlife medicine, where veterinarians may need repeated blood tests and specialized laboratory work to identify the source of a serious illness. In Jackie’s case, the center said further testing was being expedited.
How did Jackie reach the Ojai Raptor Center?
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team said it rescued an injured bald eagle after a fight involving two other eagles and transported the bird to the Ojai Raptor Center.
ABC News described the rescued bird as presumed to be Jackie. The available information does not provide definitive identification details beyond that description.
Jackie had been associated with the Big Bear Valley nest-cam and became widely known among viewers who followed the birds’ lives. Her treatment has involved wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organizations across Southern California, as well as the California Living Museum in Bakersfield, which provided the transfusion donor.
What does the latest update mean?
The move out of intensive care was an encouraging treatment milestone, but it did not mean Jackie had recovered. The subsequent fall in PCV shows why her condition continues to require close monitoring.
The latest information establishes that Jackie remains critically ill and that veterinarians are still investigating the cause of her anemia. It does not establish a final diagnosis, a recovery timeline or whether she will be released back into the wild.
This is an individual wildlife rehabilitation case, not a measure of the health of California’s bald eagle population. The available sources do not provide population data or environmental monitoring findings connected to Jackie’s illness.
