Jackie, the beloved California bald eagle whose life as a wildlife livestream star captured a global audience, has died at the age of 14 after battling a severe, weeks-long illness, wildlife officials announced on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. According to the Ojai Raptor Center, the celebrity raptor passed away in the early hours of the morning following intensive medical treatment in an intensive care unit.
For nearly a decade, millions of viewers across the United States and around the world followed Jackie’s daily life through nonstop livestream cameras managed by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. Perched high in a Jeffrey pine tree overlooking Big Bear Lake, Jackie and her mate, Shadow, became internet sensations as they weathered freezing winter storms, raised multiple eaglets, and symbolized the resilient comeback of bald eagles in California and throughout the United States.
Her death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in California wildlife conservation, closing a story that transformed a wild bird into an unlikely internet star. Wildlife authorities confirmed that Jackie’s remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as specialists review medical data from her final weeks.
Rescue and Weeks of Intensive Medical Care
Jackie’s health crisis began in mid-July 2026, when she was discovered weak, disheveled, and unable to fly on the north shore of Big Bear Lake following a scuffle with two younger eagles, according to reports detailed by the Los Angeles Times. Rescuers quickly transported her to the Ojai Raptor Center for emergency rehabilitation.
Chris Eksteen, the center’s executive director, noted in updates that while the territorial fight likely left Jackie grounded, it did not cause her underlying medical symptoms. Subsequent veterinary examinations revealed that Jackie was suffering from severe anemia. Her condition required intensive interventions, including a blood transfusion from another eagle, oxygen therapy, and around-the-clock monitoring.
Despite conducting a battery of diagnostic tests—including a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy—veterinary teams and consulting specialists were unable to pinpoint the exact root cause of her illness. Her health fluctuated throughout her stay in Ojai. Her packed cell volume, which measures the percentage of red blood cells in the bloodstream, rose and fell multiple times. On Aug. 3, the center reported that her packed cell volume had dropped to 13%, and by the weekend, it plummeted below 6% before a slight rebound to 9%. Despite ongoing supportive treatment, her condition continued to deteriorate.
“Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists,” the Ojai Raptor Center stated in a social media announcement shared on Monday afternoon.
An Unlikely Internet Star and Conservation Legacy
Long before capturing global attention, Jackie was believed to be the first documented bald eagle hatched in Big Bear Valley, according to records from the Friends of Big Bear Valley. Hatched in 2012, her life coincided with the broader, successful recovery of bald eagle populations across California and the United States after decades of severe decline driven by habitat loss, hunting, and the pesticide DDT.
Public interest exploded after the Friends of Big Bear Valley installed webcams near the nesting site. By 2026, the nonprofit had attracted more than a million followers across various social media platforms. Viewers regularly tuned in from across California and around the world to watch Jackie and Shadow, who formed a pair bond in 2018. Over the years, the pair successfully raised multiple offspring, including Stormy, Spirit, Sunny, Gizmo, and—most recently in 2026—Luna and Sandy.
Next Steps and Public Tribute
Following Jackie’s passing, the Ojai Raptor Center announced it is coordinating with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to release further details regarding her medical treatment and final diagnostic test results. Wildlife advocates and online followers have flooded social media with tributes, reflecting on her impact on public awareness regarding wild bird conservation.
The Friends of Big Bear Valley shared the center’s update on Facebook, offering a message of support to grieving watchers: “Please be kind to yourself, to others, to the FOBBV team and to those at the Ojai Raptor Center. Soar free Jackie…”
Official agencies and wildlife rehabilitation centers are expected to release comprehensive veterinary findings once pathology reviews conclude. Readers and wildlife enthusiasts looking to share condolences or monitor future updates from the sanctuary teams can visit the official social media channels of the Friends of Big Bear Valley and the Ojai Raptor Center.
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