Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle dies after weeks-long illness

animalsAug 11, 2026418,088

Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle who became an internet-famous symbol of the species’ recovery in California, died Monday morning at an Ojai rehabilitation center after a weeks-long battle with a mysterious illness. The 14-year-old was found mid-July weak, disheveled and unable to fly on Big Bear Lake’s north shore after a scuffle with two younger eagles and was taken to the Ojai Raptor Center for intensive care. Veterinarians diagnosed severe anemia and performed a blood transfusion from another eagle, and Jackie underwent a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy, but physicians were unable to identify a definitive cause. Her packed cell volume rose and fell during treatment, slipping to 13 percent on August 3, dropping below 6 percent on Saturday, and rebounding to 9 percent the next day before her condition deteriorated. Jackie and her mate Shadow had drawn millions of viewers to a nonstop nest livestream since Friends of Big Bear Valley installed a camera in 2015 and the pair formed in 2018. The Ojai Raptor Center said her remains were transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and that it is working with that department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will issue another statement about treatment and test results. Jordan Markowski, a viewer quoted by the center, wrote that Jackie inspired many people to protect wild spaces and creatures.

Alt National Park Service

@altnps.bsky.social

Aww, RIP Jackie. 💔 The beloved bald eagle whose life was followed by millions through the Big Bear Lake live webcam has died. She will be missed!

696945d ago

Liz Ahern 🌈🇲🇽🏳️‍⚧️☮️194

Her legacy of resilience, bravery and dedication to protecting her territory and eaglets calls us to do the same.🦅

Mary85

I've been watching Jackie and Shadow for the last 10 years. Just absolutely heartbroken by the news. 😢

malinois4me.bsky.social69

Hey, Mitch McConnell's office. See how easy it is to announce one's death. The difference - people will miss the eagle.

Pa.gal48

She will be missed, and I hope Shadow does well. In Pittsburgh we always watched mom and dad Hays and dad disappeared a couple years ago. Now mom‘s got a nest across the river and her two babies didn’t live this year. Yes, I watch Eagles. And sometimes it’s hard. But so many loved Jackie. 🦅🪶🪽

abcdef 🕶️32

💔 Gutted by this. I’ve spent countless hours watching her and shadow parenting their babies and loving each other. Such magnificent creatures. 😭😭😭

Truth Matters🌊'2631

She represented our country well💔

Quoting this

AltFDA12

Fuck you asshole! You’re just glomming onto this to support your grift!

🍁 LadyFireHorse 🍁 my photography @LadyFireHorseLens 📷4

I’m heartbroken. 💔 Jackie was beloved by many. Together with Shadow, we watched her raise her babies who now fly wild and strong like their parents did. Fly free beautiful Jackie. Thank you for the beautiful memories and educating us in the process. You will be missed and forever remembered. ❤️ 🦅

Declassify UAP3

😢 She lived a good life, loved by millions. ❤️

Sen. Adam Schiff

@schiff.senate.gov

Devastated to learn of the passing of California’s pride, Jackie, earlier today. Any visitor to my office in the past year knows we proudly showed the livestream of Jackie’s nest showing alongside C-SPAN and national news. We join all of CA of mourning the passing of one of our most famous icons.

66645d ago

Be.6

Bless her heart🩷I’ve followed Jackie and Shadow’s journey for years. So very sad…

BonFire3

There is a deafening metaphor here 😞

🧝🏻‍♀️⚡️kimmie stardust⚡️🌳(The Dread Pirate kimmie🏴‍☠️) 🐦‍⬛2

Devastating loss. She was so loved.

mb111.bsky.social2

Thank you for sharing Jackie with your constituents 🦅

Cosmos Soup2

Lead shot poisoning, or rodenticide, or bird flu would be what I'd test for first.

antiinsanity.bsky.social2

Let us use this as a lesson to protect 30% of state lands and all of the state's waters from the criminal activities of the federal government.

Tom

@birdfan.bsky.social

When I first started photographing birds, I always wanted to get a bald eagle. This was my first photo "get" (in Illinois). Jackie & Shadow are a locally famous bald eagle couple in Southern California due to FOBBV nest cam that I followed. Mom, Jackie, just passed away after many days in ICU 😢 💔

On the far, far shore of a local pond in Northern Illinois, a bald eagle flies from right to left of frame. There are many lush, green trees as a backdrop for the soaring eagle. Above the treeline is a hazy gray, monochromatic sky. Then below, green and brown reeds can be seen standing at attention just below the tree line and they form the lower border of the photo. May Jackie, the Big Bear famous eagle mom, rest in peace.

4245d ago

DiRebecca (Di)3

I grew up near the mississippi river when there were no bald eagles. Thankfully they’ve recovered & are now common along the river in that area. I get so excited when I see them here along our norcal coast. I was very sad to see that news today too. Here’s one I saw last week in Pt. Reyes.💜

Pia❤️2

Yes, back when I was confined at home during the pandemic, they were one of the few sources of joy for us. I still remember the first egg being laid on January 8, 2020, and the second one three days later. Those are such wonderful memories! By the way, you took some great photos

amyb2

I just learned about Jackie's passing. She was a fighter.

Shiboof1

Crap, I read this morning she was still fighting. Very very 😔

Marsha8of91

I've been following along with the rest of the world, so sorry for your loss. Hopefully Shadow will find another mate and continue to use that nest.

Rhonda 🌊

@silverarticfox.bsky.social

Wishing Jackie, the beloved Big Bear bald eagle a blessed journey to the land of beautiful souls.

3445d ago

Sabrina Mandanas

@sgmandanas.bsky.social

Good morning. I’m posting a photo of Jackie, the beloved Big Bear bald eagle, at her nest looking powerful & healthy. We will miss you. Fly Queen fly…😢💙🦋🌱

3445d ago

🌿barayajis (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و🌿

@ziggyzagz.bsky.social

An update on where Jackie's remains will go, more details on her care and the importance of conservation for anyone curious: share.google/pSshn63gOOD3...

2744d ago

Jacks. Yup! That Damn SOB. 🪶🦬 🐺 🦅 🌎 ⚖️

@palehorse.bsky.social

#Wildlife 🦅 R.I.P. Jackie. 😢 🪶 Jackie, a bald eagle with a devoted internet following, died early in the morning on August 10 in Ojai, California, while in the care of the Ojai Raptor Center. She was 14 years old. The Ojai Raptor Center announced her death. 🦅 www.popsci.com/environment/...

2545d ago

Tiffany⸆⸉

@tiffanyclay.dev

I’m absolutely gutted. I’m going to miss Jackie so much. My heart aches for Shadow. #FOBBV

2245d ago

Stardust 🌏🎬

@stardustbluepr.com

Jackie the bald eagle has died. The symbol of our nation. A sad irony. 🙏

1945d ago

Blackfoot Niitsítapi🪶🇨🇦🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💙🌎🐾🐾🐝🦋🦅🦬🦫🐋🦆🦉🐧🐦‍⬛🐻🦊

@thoughtsnations.bsky.social

My heart. I hope the local Nations are contacted to give #JackieTheEagle a proper ceremony. 🪶🙌🏽💔🦅 www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...

1544d ago

Dr. René MD 🇺🇸🩺

@drrenemd.bsky.social

I don't know if you remember Jackie, but I've spent many hours watching the live feeds, & it was really uplifting. She was awesome & was very protective as a mother. She is survived by her mate Shadow. This is really sad news 🥺😢💔. Soar high, Jackie 🦅❣️ www.desertsun.com/story/news/n...

1445d ago

Kj1

I have visited Big Bear many times and followed Jackie and Shadow as well. Devastating loss to so many who came to love our Bald Eagle family.

Wowie K1

Same here. She will be sorely missed. Signed, an eaglet cheerleader.

Lyn Heideman

@heidelyn.bsky.social

...includes a generation of people working to make the world a better place for birds. And, as it turns out, what's good for birds is good for people, too. Jackie's death was covered by newspapers and news stations around the world. The NY Times story: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u.... #birds

1344d ago

Marian Goldeen1

I’m grateful that she was found before she died and so we all learned of her end and can reach closure

kristina0221.bsky.social1

Friends just told me about Jackie not three weeks ago, and now she's gone. Life is fleeting, but the amount of love that came her way was heartwarming. Rest well, mama.

CALI GIRL

@calidemocrat.bsky.social

youtube.com/watch?v=zZMH... RIP beloved Jackie 😭 Watch over Shadow and all the beautiful babies you had together. You and Shadow brought us so much joy over the years. Be safe, sweet darling. You were loved. 💔🙏🌈

1445d ago

Esme Weatherwax 📚🧶🦉🌳🔬📸 🌈 ally

@esmeweatherwax8.bsky.social

RIP Jackie the bald eagle. Ugh. That'll teach me to watch the same wildlife cams for almost a decade and develop a parasocial bond with an eagle.

1744d ago

Laur Bagley

@laur-rants.bsky.social

Jackie of Big Bear, i will miss you so much. Fly high, you fought to the end, but you knew your time was done. Shadow will move on, but him and us will never forget you. You did so much for eagles and for wildlife, and you'll never know. You were only an eagle, but you brought out the best in us.

Screenshot of Jackie the bald eagle in 2023, announcing the lay of her second egg of that season. The image is at 8:22 at night, and so is black and white in infrared

1145d ago

3 sources

cp24.comJackie, the California bald eagle who became an internet sensation, dies after illness usatoday.comThe Jackie Show: What we learned from America's beloved bald eagle latimes.comJackie, arguably the world's most famous bald eagle, dies after mysterious illness

Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle dies after weeks-long illnessanimals

Jackie the Big Bear bald eagle dies after weeks-long illness

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