[REVISION HISTORY]

Bald eagle Jackie dies; death sparks grief and controversy

Updated 13 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-17 23:00 UTC → 2026-08-20 12:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Bald eagle Jackie dies; death sparks grief and ~~harassment~~ controversy

Jackie, the well‑known bald eagle from the Big Bear Valley pair, was rescued after a ground‑level encounter with two younger eagles in July. Following a life‑saving blood transfusion from Spirit at the CALM Zoo, veterinarians at the Ojai Raptor Center reported that her packed‑cell volume (PCV) rose from about 8% to 16% over the first week of treatment, and she began eating and moving more actively. By early August, Jackie's condition fluctuated significantly. While her PCV briefly rose to 17%, she later experienced a decline to 13%. Most recently, her condition has been described as critical and unstable, with PCV levels dropping as low as 6% before a slight rise to 9%. Throughout these fluctuations, she has remained severely anemic, with elevated white‑cell counts indicating ongoing inflammation, stress, or potential infection. The Ojai team has implemented intensified diagnostics, including heavy‑metal screening, expanded toxicology, radiographs, a contrast CT scan, and a bone‑marrow biopsy. Jackie has also been placed on supplemental‑oxygen support. Specialists from across the United States are consulting on the case, but the underlying cause of her anemia remains unknown. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are monitoring the situation. Despite intensive care and the efforts of a collaborative team of nine veterinarians, Jackie died early Monday morning, August 10, at the age of 14, following a three-week battle with severe anemia. Veterinarians determined she was also suffering from kidney inflammation, thrombosis in her wing, and abnormalities in her liver and lungs, though tests ruled out lead poisoning. Following a necropsy by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Jackie’s remains will be sent to the National Eagle Repository for ceremonial use by federally recognized tribes and conservation education.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.