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BIG BEAR LAKE, California (KABC) — Jackie, the beloved Big Bear bald eagle, continues to receive care after she was injured and then rescued, but officials say her condition remains critical.
The Ojai Raptor Center, where she’s being treated, described Jackie’s case as “very serious.”
While she is alert and is eating, the center said in a post on Instagram that Jackie is experiencing severe anemia and inflammation affecting the kidneys. They’re waiting on further test results to pinpoint the underlying cause.
Some things they were testing were for levels of zinc, rodenticides and lead.
“Wildlife medicine takes time, and some answers simply cannot be rushed. As we learn more about this patient’s condition, we will continue to share meaningful updates with you,” the center said.
What happened to Jackie?
New video is shedding light on what led up to Jackie being injured and why she needed to be rescued.
The footage was taken by a couple who found her grounded near Big Bear Lake and unable to fly. It shows Jackie fighting with two younger eagles, using her talons to fend them off.
The Ojai Raptor Center says territorial disputes are normal for nesting sites and food sources.
Vet teams said Jackie was weak and vulnerable when the couple found her.
She was eventually rescued earlier Saturday morning the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team, who them transported her to the wildlife center for treatment.
How could such a strong, grown-up eagle get compromised?
“There’s some clues in here. If a mature eagle was compromised, if it was injured, or if it was lead poisoned, for example, that could explain why it was unable to fly away,” said Dr. Todd Katzner, a prominent wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who specializes in eagle conservation.
Rescuers are testing Jackie for levels of zinc, rodenticides and lead. In his research, Dr. Katzner says environmental toxins are a huge issue plaguing eagles.
“An injury like this is probably human-associated in the beginning, and it’s a good reminder of the role that we play in the environment,” Dr. Katzner said.
Rescuers say it could take weeks, maybe longer, before we could see Jackie’s return.
The good news? Dr. Katzner says her eaglets, Luna and Sandy, are old enough to fly and fend for themselves with a little help from their dad, Shadow.
The Big Bear eagle cam gives us a peek into the story of Jackie and Shadow’s resilience, love and partnership.
“I think we should all be proud of birds like these, and remember that there are many tens or hundreds or thousands in California that are doing the same thing off-camera,” Dr. Katzner said.
Today, there are more than 70,000 bald eagle nesting pairs in the U.S. They’re thriving compared to the sparse population we had in the 1960s. It shows how small human actions can make a huge difference.
Dr. Katzner says he doesn’t use rodenticides in his home, and his friends who hunt use non-lead ammunition.
He says about 50% of bald eagles and golden eagles test positive for exposure to lead. In the U.S., it’s mainly from lead ammunition, which is banned from hunting in California. Tests show about 89% of eagles test positive for rodenticides.
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