Jackie, the celebrated Big Bear bald eagle whose life and nesting seasons captivated millions of online viewers worldwide, died Monday following a prolonged battle with illness, according to her caretakers at the Ojai Raptor Center. She was approximately 14 years old.
The raptor passed away early Monday morning in the intensive care unit after spending three weeks receiving specialized veterinary care, treatment for anemia, and around-the-clock monitoring. Her death marks the end of an era for wildlife enthusiasts who followed her daily routine via a livestream camera operated by the nonprofit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley.
For more than a decade, Jackie and her partner, Shadow, nested high in the trees near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. Their breeding seasons drew an international audience, turning the pair into viral sensations and living symbols of the American bald eagle’s recovery across California.
According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team recovered Jackie from the wilderness on July 17. Wildlife responders intervened following reports that the eagle had been involved in an altercation with two other juvenile eagles and was displaying signs of illness. Video footage captured by a local wildlife observer documented the clash, though caretakers noted it remained unclear whether Jackie was already sick before the attack.
Transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center, Jackie received intensive medical intervention, including blood transfusions, oxygen therapy, and supportive care administered by veterinary specialists. Despite these efforts, her condition steadily worsened over several days, culminating in her death on Monday morning.
“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,” the facility stated in a public announcement shared on Instagram and reported by the New York Post. “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.”
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife took possession of Jackie’s remains following her death. The Ojai Raptor Center announced it is coordinating with both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife officials to release additional information concerning her medical treatments and diagnostic test results.
The Friends of Big Bear Valley established the nest camera in 2015, offering a real-time look into the lives of wild bald eagles. Over the years, Jackie and Shadow successfully raised multiple eaglets, including Simba, Spirit, Sunny, Gizmo, and their more recently hatched offspring, Luna and Sandy, as estimated by the nonprofit organization.
Jackie’s dedication to her parental duties was noted among followers. In 2024, she endured a winter storm that blanketed her nesting tree in snow, sitting on her eggs for more than two and a half days straight.
Biologist Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the Ventana Wildlife Society in central California, noted that the livestream played a powerful role in connecting the public to wildlife conservation. While his organization was not directly involved with the Big Bear eagles, Sorenson emphasized that their nesting success reflects the broader comeback of the species.
“You want to see a success story like that,” Sorenson told the Associated Press on Monday. “Having access to a live cam to see the nesting first hand is very powerful. It brings people in on an emotional level.”
American bald eagles teetered on the brink of extinction until the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s and other protections were established, leading the species to rebound and be removed from the federal endangered list.
According to the New York Post, Shadow has already been spotted interacting with another female eagle, identified by the Orange County Water District as KD1, a female hatched in 2022 in the Prado Basin more than 100 miles away. Meanwhile, bird watchers reported that Jackie and Shadow’s most recent eaglets, Luna and Sandy, have remained unlocated for several weeks.
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