OJAI, Calif., July 24 (Our California Times) — Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle, is still in critical care after a life-saving blood transfusion, and caregivers say the main takeaway is that she is improving but not out of danger.
Friends of Big Bear Valley and the Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie is eating, perching and showing signs of improvement. Even so, they said she remains severely anemic and under close monitoring while veterinarians keep searching for the cause of her illness.
What happened to Jackie?
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation said its San Dimas Raptor Rescue team found Jackie on the ground near Big Bear Lake and took her for treatment early Saturday morning.
Friends of Big Bear Valley, which follows the nest through a live stream, said Jackie had not been seen for days at the nest she shares with Shadow.
The Ojai Raptor Center later reported that Jackie received a blood transfusion. The successful transfusion was made possible with help from Spirit, the resident bald eagle at California Living Museum in Bakersfield.
What do the tests show so far?
Caregivers say the case is still not solved.
The Ojai Raptor Center and Jackie’s veterinary team said testing has ruled out lead toxicosis and foreign objects such as fishing hooks, fishing line, sinkers and other metal objects. Friends of Big Bear Valley also said Jackie had a CT scan and that there were no obvious signs of cancer or metals in her body.
The center said Jackie’s kidney inflammation appears to have improved, but she is still severely anemic. Veterinarians have said it is still too early to give a reliable prognosis.
Why does the transfusion matter?
A blood transfusion is a treatment that gives donated blood to a patient. In Jackie’s case, caregivers said the transfusion helped stabilize her while they continue to look for the source of the problem.
That matters because a transfusion can help treat a dangerous lack of red blood cells, but it does not always answer why the anemia happened in the first place.
What is happening with Shadow and the nest?
Friends of Big Bear Valley said Shadow is continuing to care for, feed and protect Sandy and Luna while Jackie is away.
The nonprofit also said Shadow is guarding the nest and territory from other subadult eagles in the area.
For people following the Big Bear nest, the latest update is a mixed one: Jackie’s condition has improved in some ways, but the wildlife team says she still needs intensive care and more time before anyone can know how this will end.
