OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle known for her connection to Big Bear Valley’s nest-cam, remains in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center in California after a recent decline in her bloodwork.
The center reported that Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV, fell from 16% to 13%. PCV measures the share of blood made up of red blood cells. A low reading indicates anemia, a condition in which the blood carries less oxygen than normal.
Ojai Raptor Center said advanced diagnostic testing and expedited laboratory work were underway. The veterinary team has not identified the underlying cause of Jackie’s anemia and kidney inflammation.
What is known about her condition?
Jackie has required intensive veterinary treatment and round-the-clock monitoring. The Ojai Raptor Center previously reported that her PCV rose from 8% to 16% after a weekend setback. At that point, the center said she was eating independently and showing more energy and alertness, while stressing that she remained critically ill.
She also received a blood transfusion. The donor was Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. The Ojai Raptor Center described the transfusion as an important treatment milestone.
Earlier testing ruled out lead toxicosis and foreign objects, including fishing hooks, lines and weights, according to the center. The available updates do not provide final results for every possible exposure or a confirmed diagnosis.
Did Jackie leave intensive care?
The center later reported that Jackie had moved from its intensive-care unit to a regular hospital care unit because she no longer needed oxygen therapy. Ojai Raptor Center cautioned that the move was not a recovery declaration: Jackie was still very sick and needed intensive treatment and monitoring.
The later drop in PCV creates a more complicated picture. The available updates do not establish whether Jackie remains in the regular hospital unit or has returned to intensive care after her blood count worsened.
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 the Ojai Raptor Center. ABC News described the bird as presumed to be Jackie; the available information does not provide definitive identification details.
Reports placed the rescue and treatment in California, involving Big Bear Valley, Los Angeles County, Ojai and the California Living Museum in Bakersfield.
What happens next?
The Ojai Raptor Center is pursuing additional testing to determine why Jackie became anemic and developed kidney inflammation. The latest information supplied by the center does not include a prognosis, a release date or a confirmed cause of her illness.
For now, the clearest status is that Jackie remains in critical condition. Her earlier improvement in energy, eating and oxygen needs was followed by a decline in her PCV, leaving her recovery uncertain.
