Beloved Big Bear bald eagle Jackie has died after more than three weeks of intensive medical care at the Ojai Raptor Center in California, the wildlife rehabilitation centre announced Monday. Her death marks the loss of one of the region’s most recognisable and closely followed bald eagles.

Jackie, known to thousands of wildlife enthusiasts through the Friends of Big Bear Valley’s livestreams, was rescued in July after she was found grounded and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake. She had been involved in a confrontation with other eagles, but veterinarians later determined that she was already suffering from serious health problems.

Jackie’s health deteriorated despite intensive treatment

The Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie remained critically ill despite around-the-clock treatment and monitoring. Her medical team had been working with veterinary specialists and wildlife officials to determine the underlying cause of her condition.

Jackie developed severe anaemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys. At one stage, her packed cell volume, a measure of the proportion of red blood cells in her blood, fell to critically low levels. She received a blood transfusion that initially brought signs of improvement.

The eagle briefly showed encouraging progress, including eating independently and becoming more alert. She was also moved out of intensive care in late July after no longer requiring oxygen therapy. However, officials stressed at the time that she remained seriously ill and required continued treatment.

Her condition later worsened. On August 9, the Ojai Raptor Center reported that her packed cell volume had fallen below 6 per cent before rising to 9 per cent. Despite that small improvement, veterinarians said her overall condition remained extremely serious.

Jackie was part of Big Bear’s famous eagle family

Jackie was widely known as the mate of Shadow, another famous bald eagle from Big Bear Lake. The pair had become a favourite among viewers who followed their nest and breeding activities online.

The eagle family attracted a large international following through live cameras and regular updates from the Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Jackie’s death comes after a difficult breeding season and weeks of concern among supporters who closely followed updates on her health.

Ojai Raptor Center announces Jackie’s death

The Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie died in the early hours of Monday after her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment.

Her remains have been transferred to the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the centre’s latest update.

The centre also thanked the thousands of people who followed Jackie’s recovery, offered messages of support and contributed to the effort to care for her.

Jackie’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief among people who had followed her and Shadow’s lives at Big Bear Lake, with supporters mourning the loss of a bald eagle that had become an important symbol of the area’s wildlife.