OJAI, Calif., July 24 (Our California Times) — Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle, is still in critical care after receiving a successful blood transfusion, according to updates from the Ojai Raptor Center and Friends of Big Bear Valley. Caregivers said the transfusion was made possible with help from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at California Living Museum in Bakersfield.
For a bird in Jackie’s condition, the transfusion is a sign that veterinarians are still able to stabilize her while they look for the reason she became so sick. Caregivers said her kidney inflammation appears to have improved, and that she is eating, perching and appearing “bright and strong.” Even so, they said she remains severely anemic. In plain terms, anemia means the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen well.
What veterinarians know so far
The Ojai Raptor Center and Friends of Big Bear Valley said testing has not shown lead toxicosis, and has not found obvious foreign objects such as fishing hooks, lines, weights or other metal items. Friends of Big Bear Valley also said Jackie had a CT scan, and there were no obvious signs of cancer or metals in her body.
The hard part is that those results do not yet explain why Jackie became ill. Caregivers said they are still working to determine the underlying cause, and that it is too early to give a reliable prognosis. In other words, the treatment team knows Jackie is seriously ill, but not yet what started the problem.
How Jackie ended up in care
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation said its San Dimas Raptor Rescue team rescued Jackie early Saturday morning and took her to a rehabilitation facility. ABC7 reported that Jackie was found on the ground near Big Bear Lake and remained in critical condition while under care.
What is happening at the nest
Friends of Big Bear Valley, which follows the nest through a live stream, said Jackie had not been seen for days at the nest she shares with Shadow. In her absence, the nonprofit said Shadow is continuing to care for and protect Sandy and Luna and is also defending the nest and territory from other subadult eagles in the area.
Why the transfusion matters
A blood transfusion does not mean Jackie is out of danger, but it can give veterinarians more time to treat a bird whose body is struggling to make enough healthy blood on its own. For now, caregivers say the main signs to watch are whether she stays alert, keeps eating and continues to recover while the medical team searches for the cause of her illness.
