Jackie's caregivers shared good news and bad news with millions of people around the world who are desperately hoping she makes a recovery and returns to her life in Big Bear Lake with partner ShadowShow Caption
Jackie the famed bald eagle of Big Bear Lake in Southern California remains in stable but critical condition in an intensive care unit and is getting around-the-clock care as veterinarians work to solve the mysterious illness ailing her.The health update on Jackie came on Monday, July 27, from the Ojai Raptor Center, which has been treating the bald eagle for more than a week. Though she was taken to the center following a fight with two subadult eagles, her caregivers believe she has an underlying illness.Jackie got a "life-saving" blood transfusion from another eagle on July 20. After that she showed "encouraging improvement," the raptor center said.But "she experienced a setback on Saturday when her blood values declined again," the center said. "Since then, she has improved once more. She is eating on her own, her energy and alertness have noticeably improved, and she has become much more feisty during feedings."The center said that one of the most encouraging changes they've seen in Jackie is her packed cell volume, or the percentage of red blood cells in her blood stream. That figure was at 8% before the weekend but it had improved to 16% by Monday."While this remains below normal, it is an encouraging improvement, and we will continue to monitor her bloodwork daily as we keep a close eye on her progress," the center said.Her caregivers previously announced that test results show that Jackie does not have lead poisoning, a common killer among bald eagles and other birds. There are also no signs of cancer or metals, like fishing hooks, they said. Though they are giving her treatment for rodenticide poisoning, they don't believe that's what she has.The group said on Monday that Jackie is also getting prophylactic treatments "to help support her body.""Despite extensive diagnostic testing and consultation with experienced wildlife veterinarians, we still do not have a definitive diagnosis," the raptor center said. "Cases like this can be incredibly complex, and we will continue adjusting her treatment as new information becomes available."The group shared video of Jackie at various stages of her treatment, including sitting in an oxygen chamber, undergoing exams, getting hand-fed by a veterinarian as another one gently holds her, being placed under anesthesia for diagnostic testing, and getting the blood transfusion."Recovery is rarely linear," the group posted. "We remain cautiously hopeful as we continue searching for the underlying cause of her illness."Jackie has gained a loyal following of millions of fans from around the world thanks to a camera that has been livestreaming her nest since 2015. The camera has documented the highs and lows of life as a wild eagle, showing Jackie as she laid or lost eggs, raised eaglets, fought off predators, braved winter storms, and hunted for fish over the years.Jackie's fans have never worried more about her fate. Their fears grow every day she remains in critical condition."So hard to see her this subdued," wrote one fan on the Facebook post."Come on Jackie, your family awaits you!" another wrote. "Get stronger, you got this!"
