{"id":949145,"date":"2026-07-21T07:13:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T07:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/949145\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T07:13:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T07:13:37","slug":"found-weak-and-disheveled-rescued-eagle-probably-big-bears-jackie-receiving-care-in-ojai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/949145\/","title":{"rendered":"Found weak and disheveled, rescued eagle \u2014 probably Big Bear’s Jackie \u2014 receiving care in Ojai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A bald eagle believed to be Jackie, star of a Big Bear nest cam, is in stable condition at a rehabilitation center after being rescued<\/a> over the weekend, according to the nonprofit behind the livestream.<\/p>\n

Responding to a call for help, a team with the San Dimas Raptor Rescue<\/a> arrived around 1:30 a.m. Saturday and found an eagle that appeared weak and tired along the shoreline of Big Bear Lake, according to Noemi Navar, who oversees the rescue center, which is part of the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation.<\/p>\n

Because of the eagle\u2019s condition, the rescue took only about five minutes. She was loaded into a crate with a blanket and brought to the center for initial care.<\/p>\n

When the center\u2019s Kristine Koh arrived later to evaluate the raptor, she was awake and alert \u2014 but quiet. She fought less than an eagle normally would when taken out of her crate. <\/p>\n

Given the quick initial capture, \u201cwe already knew she was sick or injured,\u201d said Koh, the center\u2019s volunteer rehab manager.<\/p>\n

A brief exam revealed the eagle was quite underweight and weak, and her feet were caked with mud.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, her feathers were very disheveled, which is not normal for a healthy bird,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

But there were no obvious bone fractures, open wounds or visible parasites.<\/p>\n

On Sunday night, Friends of Big Bear Valley<\/a>, the nonprofit that operates the nest cam, announced the eagle was \u201clikely Jackie\u201d after reviewing pictures and videos provided by the rescue center and members of the public.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re fairly confident, just looking at the face and all of that,\u201d said Jenny Voisard, media and website manager for the nonprofit. Additionally, Jackie \u2014 longtime mate of Shadow \u2014 has not been spotted on two cameras trained on the eagles for some time. In her absence, Shadow is the sole caretaker of their two eaglets, Luna and Sandy, meaning he has to bring them meals and defend the nest from potential intruders.<\/p>\n

L.A. County officials said they weren\u2019t able to identify the raptor and that even confirming the sex of a bald eagle is no easy feat, given they have no external genitalia. While the San Dimas rescue personnel sometimes used \u201cshe\u201d to refer to the eagle, they clarified it could be male or female. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut right now I think everybody is pretty convinced that it is Jackie,\u201d said Kim Bosell, regional operations manager for L.A. County Parks.<\/p>\n

Under its permit, the San Dimas rescue can\u2019t keep bald eagles. So they moved the patient to the Ojai Raptor Center <\/a>for further care.<\/p>\n

\u201cA full medical assessment is currently underway, and the patient is receiving outstanding veterinary care from our team,\u201d the Ojai center posted on its Facebook page Monday. The center is accepting donations<\/a> for the eagle\u2019s care.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear what led to the eagle\u2019s deterioration, though there are several theories.<\/p>\n

Footage from Friday showed Jackie sparring with two subadult balds who seemed intent on stealing her fish, according to Voisard.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey both jumped her,\u201d she said, adding that Jackie flipped on her back and fought off the assailants with her talons but may not have been strong enough to fly away.<\/p>\n

Video from Thursday shows Jackie engaged in an aerial fight with the younger eagles, which \u201ccould have contributed a little bit to what was going on with Jackie and why she wasn\u2019t flying,\u201d Voisard said. \u201cBut we\u2019re not sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another possibility is lead poisoning, according to the San Dimas rescue.<\/p>\n

Big Bear Lake is a fishing haven, and fishing gear such as sinkers are often made of lead. Balds \u2014 fish lovers themselves \u2014 can consume hooks and sinkers when they gobble down their prey, potentially poisoning them, Koh said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, raptors get lead poisoning often, and that\u2019s one of the problems we deal with,\u201d she said, noting that their recent patient has yet to be diagnosed with this.<\/p>\n

Raptors with lead poisoning can be treated, but it doesn\u2019t guarantee recovery.<\/p>\n

Voisard for her part is optimistic, saying, \u201cI think she\u2019ll be OK.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just be comforted in the fact that Jackie is where she needs to be.\u201d<\/p>\n