Jackie, the bald eagle who became an internet sensation after thousands of people followed her life at her Big Bear nest, has died after more than three weeks of intensive treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center.
A Life of Wonder
Jackie was found on the ground last month after a fight with two other eagles. She was also sick and was brought to the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinary staff began intensive treatment.
The center identified Jackie as patient 26-519 and said she received oxygen therapy, supportive care and around-the-clock monitoring in its intensive care unit.
News of Jackie’s hospitalization quickly spread, with people around the world hoping she would recover. In Ojai, residents were among those closely following her condition.
“We heard it was being brought here, and … a lot of the excitement turned out. It’s worldwide excitement. Everybody was pulling for that eagle,” said Ojai resident Casey Abbott.
A Legacy Lives On
For years, Jackie and her mate, Shadow, were followed through a livestream from their nest in Big Bear. Millions watched as the pair raised their young, including their two most recent eaglets, Luna and Sandy.
For some viewers, watching Jackie became part of their childhood. “She was such a big part of like my school childhood,” one Jackie fan said. “Every time … it was a rainy day and we would eat lunch inside. I just knew we were going to watch Jackie.”
Another Ojai resident, Corinna Phillips, remembered following the countdown to Jackie’s eggs hatching. “We were like counting down,” Phillips said. “It was just exciting.”
The Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie remained under intensive care for more than three weeks. Despite the efforts of the center’s veterinary team and consulting specialists, her condition continued to deteriorate.
Jackie died in the early hours of Monday morning. Her remains have since been transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
For those who followed Jackie’s journey, her death is the loss of an animal they felt connected to for years. “You wanted to live to be 25, 30,” Abbott said, reflecting on Jackie’s estimated age of 14 or 15.
But Jackie’s impact may extend well beyond her life. When asked what Jackie’s legacy would be, one fan had a simple answer: “To bring people together.”
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
