California’s Beloved Bald Eagle Jackie Suffers Health Setback After Suspected Attack

Jackie, nan beloved bald eagle from Big Bear Valley, California, has suffered a wellness setback aft an evident attack by 2 different eagles.

New blood tests showed Jackie's anemia worsened signaling a diminution successful her information aft much than 2 weeks of treatment, according to a Facebook update Monday from nan Ojai Raptor Center, nan wildlife rescue installation caring for her.

The halfway said its veterinary squad is conducting further testing to amended understand Jackie’s information and guideline her treatment.

"At this stage, we do not person further answers to share, but we committedness to support you informed arsenic soon arsenic we person meaningful caller information," nan Ojai Raptor Center said, thanking nan nationalist for its "continued encouragement and support."

Hatched astir 2012, Jackie became nan first chick successfully raised successful a recorded nest successful nan Big Bear Valley area. She gained worldwide fame done nan 24/7 Friends of Big Bear Valley Eagle Nest Cam, which has followed her life pinch longtime mate Shadow and their eaglet-raising journey, attracting millions of fans complete nan years.

Jackie was rescued July 17 adjacent Big Bear Lake aft an evident altercation pinch 2 subadult eagles complete a food which near her grounded and incapable to fly.

Initial humor tests showed Jackie was suffering from terrible anemia and kidney inflammation. Veterinarians began supportive curen based connected nan disposable information, pinch guidance from wildlife experts astir nan world to find nan origin of her illness.

On July 20, Jackie received a “life-saving” humor transfusion from different eagle, underwent oxygen therapy, and continued receiving attraction arsenic veterinarians monitored her information done regular humor tests.

She was besides treated for imaginable rodenticide toxicity, though caregivers said they did not judge poisoning was nan main origin of her illness. Tests person since ruled retired different imaginable causes, including lead poisoning, crab and injuries from metallic objects, according to nan center.

Despite her superior condition, Jackie is showing signs of recovery. The Ojai Raptor Center said July 21 that she was "alert and is eating," while Friends of Big Bear Valley said she remained "mad and fighting nan staff."

"That’s our Jackie, a beardown and mighty eagle," nan nonprofit wrote successful a Facebook post. "She is eating good pinch assistance and is moreover picking up nutrient connected her own. She is still opinionated up and perching."

Last week, nan Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie had shown humble betterment contempt her “complex” aesculapian lawsuit but warned she still had a agelong roadworthy up and remained "a very sick patient."

As Jackie’s betterment continues to tie attention, nan Ojai Raptor Center urged nan nationalist and media to beryllium cautious of misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes astir her condition. The halfway besides asked group to respect nan attraction team’s time, noting that an influx of calls, messages and visits, including contacts done individual societal media accounts and astatine unit members’ homes, has created distractions from diligent care.

“Wildlife medicine requires concentration, observant determination making, and often agelong hours of uninterrupted work. Every unnecessary interruption takes clip and attraction distant from nan animals depending connected us,” nan halfway said Tuesday.