Big Bear Valley’s beloved bald eagle Jackie is dead

Jackie, a beloved bald eagle who spent her entire life in California's Big Bear Valley, has passed away at the age of 14. Found on the ground near the end of July, she had been involved in a fierce confrontation with two juvenile eagles. Jackie was subsequently brought to the Ojai Raptor Center, where she was diagnosed with severe anemia, dehydration, and a significant blood clot in her wing and kidney.

Despite undergoing extensive medical treatment, including a blood transfusion, the eagle succumbed to her ailments on August 9, 2026. Jackie became famous alongside her mate Shadow, whose nest was monitored via a live camera feed established by the Friends of Big Bear Valley in 2015. This camera captured the couple's life cycle from 2018, as they mated, hatched, and raised their chicks.

Over the years, the couple successfully raised seven eaglets, though a few did not survive. The eagle pair's story, shared through a dedicated Facebook page with 1.3 million followers, captivated audiences worldwide, who celebrated each chick's milestone and mourned their losses.