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 her anemia had worsened, with a key blood measurement falling from 16% to 13%.
The update, reported Aug. 4, did not identify the cause of Jackie’s illness or provide a prognosis. The center said advanced diagnostic testing and expedited laboratory work were underway.
What the blood test shows
The measurement is called packed cell volume, or PCV. It shows the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells. A low PCV indicates anemia, which can reduce the amount of oxygen carried through the body.
Ojai Raptor Center previously reported that Jackie’s PCV had risen from 8% to 16% after a weekend setback. At that time, the center said she was eating on her own and had more energy and alertness. The later drop to 13% indicated that the anemia had worsened, even as some earlier signs had improved.
The center has also reported inflammation affecting Jackie’s kidneys. Veterinarians have not determined the underlying cause of either condition.
Why moving out of intensive care did not mean she had recovered
Jackie was moved from the intensive-care unit to a regular hospital care unit after she no longer needed oxygen therapy, according to the Ojai Raptor Center. The center described the move as an encouraging treatment milestone but continued to emphasize that she was very sick and required close monitoring.
The later decline in her PCV means that the change in hospital unit should not be read as a recovery or release. The latest information supplied about her care does not establish whether she remains in the regular unit or has returned to intensive care.
What treatment has Jackie received?
Jackie received a blood transfusion while at the Ojai Raptor Center. The donated blood came from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield.
The center said testing ruled out lead poisoning, also called lead toxicosis, as well as foreign objects such as fishing hooks, fishing line and weights. Other possible causes mentioned in earlier updates included exposure to zinc or rodenticide, but the supplied information does not provide final results for those tests.
How Jackie arrived 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 the Ojai Raptor Center. A later account described the rescued bird as presumed to be Jackie; the available information does not provide definitive identification details.
The bird was reportedly transferred to the Ojai facility in July. The sources do not establish a confirmed diagnosis, a full prognosis or a release date.
For now, the clearest status is the one reported by the Ojai Raptor Center: Jackie remains critically ill, and veterinarians are continuing to search for the cause of her anemia while providing round-the-clock care.
