California Mourns Jackie: Beloved Bald Eagle Star Dies After Weeks of Care
California Mourns Jackie: Beloved Bald Eagle Star Dies After Weeks of Care
The internet-famous bald eagle, Jackie, known from the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, has passed away. Learn about her life, legacy, and the outpouring of grief from millions of fans.
Jackie, California's beloved bald eagle who captured the hearts of millions through a live-streamed nest camera, has died after weeks of intensive veterinary care. The news, confirmed on Monday, August 10, 2026, by the Ojai Raptor Center, has sent ripples of sadness across her vast online following.
Jackie, a majestic bald eagle, rose to internet stardom through the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, a project run by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. Since her hatching in the spring of 2012, she had been a frequent and cherished sight in the Big Bear Valley, delighting hundreds of thousands of subscribers who watched her life unfold with her partner, Shadow, whom she had been mated with since 2018.
Her health began to decline recently, prompting her transfer to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment. She had suffered an attack by other eagles and was found to have underlying health issues, including anaemia and weight loss. Despite the "intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists," her condition sadly continued to deteriorate.
The Ojai Raptor Center shared their heartbreak in a statement, saying, "Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her." They acknowledged the deep impact Jackie had on people worldwide: "We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her."
Jackie's remains have been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Ojai Raptor Center has stated they are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and will release a more comprehensive statement, including further details on her treatments and test results, in due course. Her legacy as a symbol of wild beauty and resilience will undoubtedly live on in the memories of her devoted fans.
