OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle associated with the Big Bear Valley nest-cam, remains in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center, where veterinarians are providing intensive treatment and monitoring.
The center’s latest reported update said Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV, had fallen from 16% to 13%. PCV measures the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells. The decline indicated that her anemia had worsened, and Ojai Raptor Center said advanced diagnostic and expedited laboratory testing were underway.
The center has not identified the underlying cause of Jackie’s illness. It has reported anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys.
What is known about her condition?
Jackie’s PCV had risen from 8% to 16% after a weekend setback, according to Ojai Raptor Center. At that time, the center said she was eating independently and had more energy and alertness.
The later decline to 13% showed that the improvement in her blood count had not held. Ojai Raptor Center has continued to describe her condition as critical. The center has not released a complete prognosis or a date for possible release.
Earlier testing ruled out lead toxicosis and foreign objects, including fishing hooks, fishing lines and weights, the center reported. The results supplied by the center did not establish whether other suspected exposures, such as zinc or rodenticide, played a role.
What treatment has Jackie received?
Jackie received a blood transfusion, which Ojai Raptor Center described as an important treatment milestone. The donated blood came from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield.
The center previously reported that Jackie was eating and perching. She also moved from the intensive-care unit to a regular hospital care unit after she no longer needed oxygen therapy. Ojai Raptor Center cautioned that the move was an encouraging step but did not mean she was out of danger.
The latest reported decline does not establish whether Jackie remains in the regular hospital unit or has returned to intensive care. Ojai Raptor Center has not provided that detail in the updates summarized here.
How did Jackie arrive at the center?
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation’s San Dimas Raptor Rescue team said it rescued an injured bald eagle after a fight with two other eagles and transported the bird to Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai.
ABC News described the rescued bird as presumed to be Jackie. The available reports do not provide definitive identification details beyond that description. Earlier accounts placed the fight in early July.
Jackie’s care has involved wildlife-rescue organizations in several parts of California: the Los Angeles County rescue team, Ojai Raptor Center in Ventura County and the California Living Museum in Bakersfield, which provided the transfusion donor.
Why the blood count matters
Anemia means the blood does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen effectively. In Jackie’s case, the low PCV has required veterinary treatment and close monitoring. A rise from 8% to 16% was an improvement, but the subsequent fall to 13% showed that the problem remained unresolved.
The center’s updates do not identify a confirmed disease or injury responsible for the anemia and kidney inflammation. Until testing provides more information, veterinarians are continuing supportive care and searching for an underlying cause.
