Jackie the Bald Eagle, whose life at a famous Big Bear nest attracted viewers around the world, died Monday at age 14 after weeks of intensive veterinary treatment.
The Ojai Raptor Center announced Aug. 10 that Jackie died in the early hours of the morning after her health continued to decline.
Jackie had been receiving intensive care for severe anemia. Veterinarians provided oxygen therapy, supportive treatment and around the clock monitoring, while specialists from across the country assisted with her care.
Despite those efforts, her red blood cell levels remained dangerously low. The rescue center said her condition had briefly improved after she was rescued but later deteriorated again.
Jackie’s remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
How Jackie Became a Wildlife Star
Jackie was believed to have been born in 2012 and was considered by Friends of Big Bear Valley to be the first bald eagle chick documented as hatching in Big Bear Valley in recent history.
Her connection to the famous nest developed after the eagles believed to be her parents, Ricky and Lucy, left the area around 2016. Jackie began using their former nest, where a wildlife camera had already been installed.
The livestream allowed people to watch her behavior through different stages of nesting and parenting.
What began as a conservation project eventually developed into a widely followed online wildlife community.
By 2026, Friends of Big Bear Valley had more than a million followers across social media platforms.
Jackie and Shadow’s Decade Long Bond
Jackie initially paired with another bald eagle known as Mr. B before Shadow arrived in 2018. Shadow eventually became her longtime mate, and the pair remained together for years.
Their nest became particularly popular because viewers could observe the challenges of raising young in the wild. The eagles faced winter storms, failed nesting attempts, attacks from ravens and the loss of eggs and eaglets.
Despite those setbacks, Jackie and Shadow successfully raised six eaglets: Simba in 2019, Spirit in 2022, Sunny and Gizmo in 2025, and Sandy and Luna in 2026. The 2026 eaglets were the final young Jackie raised before her illness.
Concern about Jackie grew during the summer after she disappeared from the nest area.
She was eventually found grounded near Big Bear Lake following a brief fight with two other eagles. According to the Ojai Raptor Center, Jackie was weak, underweight and unable to fly when she was rescued.
The center said the confrontation likely contributed to her being grounded, but her overall condition indicated that she had probably been ill for some time.
Her medical team later faced a difficult case involving severe anemia and other complications. Supporters closely followed updates as veterinarians attempted to stabilize her.
More Than an Internet Celebrity
Jackie became an unusual bridge between wildlife conservation and digital media. Families, teachers and viewers around the world used the livestream to observe bald eagle behavior without disturbing the birds in their natural environment.
Her story also helped draw attention to the importance of the Big Bear ecosystem and the conservation of bald eagle habitat.
Her popularity extended into mainstream entertainment. Jackie and Shadow were featured in an episode of CBS’ “NCIS,” while their story also inspired artwork by Apple Valley artist Debbie Saude.
Friends of Big Bear Valley and the Ojai Raptor Center shared messages of grief following her death, reflecting the large community that had followed Jackie for years.
For viewers, Jackie represented more than a bird on a livestream. Her years at the Big Bear nest offered an unusually detailed look at courtship, nesting, parenting and survival in the wild.
Jackie is survived in the wild by her longtime mate, Shadow, and offspring that have dispersed over the years. Her death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the story of one of California’s most closely watched wildlife families.
