OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle associated with the famous Big Bear Valley nest-cam, remains in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center as veterinarians investigate a worsening case of anemia.
In its latest reported update, the center said Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV, had fallen from 16% to 13%. PCV measures the share of blood made up of red blood cells. A low result is a sign of anemia, a condition in which the blood does not carry enough oxygen.
Ojai Raptor Center said advanced diagnostic testing and expedited laboratory work were underway. The center has not identified the underlying cause of Jackie’s anemia or kidney inflammation.
What happened to Jackie?
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team said it rescued an injured bald eagle after a fight with two other eagles and transported the bird to the Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai. ABC News described the bird as presumed to be Jackie.
The available reports do not provide definitive identification details. They also do not establish whether the bird’s injuries from the fight caused the later medical problems.
Jackie was transferred to the Ojai center in July. The center later reported that she was severely anemic and had inflammation affecting her kidneys.
Testing ruled out lead toxicosis and foreign objects, including fishing hooks, fishing line and weights, according to the center. Earlier reports said testing for other possible exposures, including zinc or rodenticide, was pending, but the available updates do not provide final results for those tests.
Why was the blood transfusion important?
Jackie received a blood transfusion using blood from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. The Ojai Raptor Center described the transfusion as an important treatment milestone.
After a setback, Jackie’s PCV rose from 8% to 16%, the center said. She was eating independently and showed more energy and alertness. Those changes were encouraging, but the center continued to describe her condition as critical.
The rise did not resolve the underlying problem. The later drop to 13% showed that her anemia had worsened again, prompting additional testing.
Did Jackie leave intensive care?
The Ojai Raptor Center previously reported that Jackie had moved from its intensive-care unit to a regular hospital-care unit because she no longer needed oxygen therapy. The center said she remained very sick and required intensive treatment and monitoring.
The latest update about the drop in PCV does not say whether Jackie remains in the regular hospital unit or has returned to intensive care. It also does not provide a current prognosis, a confirmed diagnosis or a release date.
The center has emphasized that progress in wildlife medicine can be uneven and that some answers take time. For now, the measurable change is a decline in Jackie’s PCV after an earlier improvement, while veterinarians continue searching for the cause of her illness.
Jackie’s case has drawn attention across California because of her connection to the Big Bear Valley nest-cam and the regional network involved in her rescue and treatment, including the San Dimas Raptor Rescue team and the California Living Museum.
