Jackie, a beloved bald eagle and livestream star, dies of mysterious illness
Thousands mourn the death of the eagle at California’s Big Bear Lake, whose life was closely followed via livestream Jackie – the beloved bald eagle at California’s Big Bear Lake whose livestream was followed by millions of viewers as she birthed and raised chicks – died on Monday due to a mysterious illness. She was 14. Jackie had been receiving treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center since mid-July…
The beloved bald eagle known as Jackie, whose livestreamed life at California's Big Bear Lake was followed by millions, passed away on Monday at the age of 14. Jackie had been receiving medical care at the Ojai Raptor Center since mid-July after being discovered weak and unable to fly following a confrontation with two younger eagles.
The raptor center staff discovered that she was suffering from severe anemia and suspected she had been ill for weeks prior to the incident that grounded her. Despite conducting multiple tests, including a CT scan and bone marrow biopsy, the center's experts were unable to determine the exact cause of Jackie's illness. The center is currently in consultation with the US and California fish and wildlife services to gather more information.
Jackie's story had captivated audiences since the livestream was established in October 2015, following her parents, Ricky and Lucy. Over the years, Jackie and her mate, Shadow, welcomed several clutches of chicks, including Luna and Sandy, named after the executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, who had passed away from cancer.
Jackie's story inspired the public to unite in supporting environmental preservation, leading to a $10 million effort by Friends of Big Bear Lake to purchase land nearby, now being managed by the non-profit. The raptor center expressed its profound grief, highlighting the extraordinary privilege of caring for Jackie and the impact she had on countless individuals worldwide.
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