The latest update on Big Bear Eagle Jackie has brought the difficult news that everyone following her recovery hoped would not come.
On August 3, 2026, Ojai Raptor Center announced that Jackie’s packed cell volume, or PCV, had dropped to 13%. According to the center, the decline means her anemia has worsened since its previous update.
Jackie’s veterinary team is now moving quickly to expand its search for answers. Additional advanced diagnostic testing is underway, while the team has also requested expedited laboratory testing.
However, the cause of Jackie’s condition remains unknown.
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Jackie’s Latest Bloodwork Brings a Difficult Setback
Jackie remains under specialized veterinary care as Patient 26-519 at Ojai Raptor Center. Her latest bloodwork showed that her PCV had fallen to 13%. PCV measures the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells. Therefore, a lower result can indicate worsening anemia.
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The new result marks a setback in Jackie’s recovery. However, the center has not released a new prognosis or announced what the decline could mean for her long-term outlook. Instead, her veterinary team is gathering more information before determining the next steps in her treatment. That careful approach is important because the PCV result confirms that Jackie remains anemic, but it does not identify the reason her red blood cell level has fallen.
Advanced Diagnostic Testing Is Now Underway
Ojai Raptor Center said its veterinary team responded quickly after receiving Jackie’s latest bloodwork. The team has started additional advanced diagnostic testing. It has also requested expedited laboratory testing to help specialists better understand her condition.
“At this stage, we do not have further answers to share,” the center explained in its August 3 update.
That means no underlying cause has been confirmed. The center has not announced what each new test will examine. It has also not released new details about Jackie’s medications, supportive care or possible future procedures. Until the veterinary team releases those results, claims about a specific disease or cause remain speculation.
Jackie’s Anemia Remains a Medical Mystery
Anemia describes a reduced amount of circulating red blood cells. However, anemia is not a complete diagnosis by itself. Veterinarians must still determine why the red blood cell level has fallen and whether the body is losing cells, destroying them or failing to replace them normally.
Jackie’s doctors must interpret her PCV alongside the rest of her bloodwork, physical examinations, clinical condition and diagnostic results. Consequently, one laboratory number cannot answer every question about her condition. The latest result does confirm that Jackie’s anemia has worsened. Beyond that, Ojai Raptor Center has not announced a cause or offered a prediction about her recovery.
No New Treatment Decisions Have Been Announced
Jackie previously received a blood transfusion with help from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum, commonly known as CALM Zoo. That transfusion became possible through cooperation among Ojai Raptor Center, CALM Zoo and the other veterinary professionals involved in Jackie’s care.
However, the August 3 update did not announce another transfusion. It also did not state that Jackie had returned to intensive care or that her current treatment plan had changed.
Those decisions belong to the veterinary team caring for her. The doctors must consider Jackie’s complete condition and the results of the advanced testing before deciding what comes next. For now, the only confirmed development is that her PCV has dropped to 13% and additional testing is underway.
Why Jackie Has Not Returned to Big Bear
Jackie’s worsening anemia has led some concerned followers to wonder whether she should return to Big Bear and reunite with Shadow. Ojai Raptor Center has not announced plans to release her.
Wildlife rehabilitators work toward returning patients to the wild whenever they can safely survive there. Before release, an animal must demonstrate that it can function without medical support and meet the physical demands of life in its natural habitat. Ojai Raptor Center explains that its rehabilitation work includes examinations, diagnostic testing, treatment and a pre-release assessment. The center’s goal is to return patients to the wild when their medical condition allows it.
Jackie is still undergoing treatment and advanced testing. In addition, her veterinary team does not yet know why her anemia has worsened. For now, her care team remains focused on stabilizing her condition and finding the cause of the worsening anemia. The decision must depend on her health, strength and ability to survive safely, rather than the understandable desire to see her back with Shadow.
Ojai Raptor Center Asks the Public for Space
Concern for Jackie reaches far beyond Big Bear Valley. People around the world have followed her life with Shadow, watched her protect their nest and celebrated the eaglets they raised together. As a result, each medical update brings an enormous response.
However, Ojai Raptor Center has asked the public and members of the media to give its veterinary and rehabilitation teams the time and space they need. The center specifically requested that people refrain from calling, texting, emailing or visiting the facility for updates.
Its staff members need to remain focused on patient care. They are caring not only for Jackie, but also for other injured and sick wildlife. Ojai Raptor Center has promised to release another update when meaningful new information becomes available. Until then, supporters can help by relying on official announcements and avoiding unconfirmed medical theories.
Jackie’s Veterinary Team Continues the Search
This Big Bear Eagle Jackie update has delivered a painful turn in a recovery already filled with uncertainty. The falling PCV shows that Jackie still faces a serious medical challenge. Nevertheless, advanced testing is moving forward, and specialists continue searching for the cause.
Executive Director Chris Eksteen, Dr. Kathryn Rasp and the entire Ojai Raptor Center team remain involved in her care. Spirit and the CALM Zoo staff also played an important role by making Jackie’s earlier transfusion possible. In addition, the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura has contributed specialized veterinary support.
Many people want an immediate answer. They want to know what caused the anemia, whether Jackie needs another transfusion and when she might return home. For now, those answers do not exist. What remains certain is that Jackie is receiving specialized care while her veterinary team follows every available lead.
Big Bear Waits for Jackie
Jackie’s absence has left a space in the Big Bear territory that viewers can feel each time the cameras move across the familiar trees. Shadow remains in the territory Jackie has shared with him for years. Meanwhile, the veterinary team continues working miles away to understand why her blood values have fallen.
No one can promise what the next update will bring. Still, Jackie has a team of veterinary professionals working for her, a community waiting for her and a familiar mountain sky that has not forgotten her.
For now, Big Bear waits. So does Shadow. And Jackie’s care team keeps searching for the answer that could show them the way forward.
Support Ojai Raptor Center
Those wishing to support the care and rehabilitation of Jackie and other bald eagle patients can donate through the Ojai Raptor Center Bald Eagle Rehabilitation Campaign.
Video credit: The video was recorded and shared on YouTube by Lady Hawk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Big Bear Eagle Jackie?
Jackie’s latest bloodwork showed that her packed cell volume had fallen to 13%. Ojai Raptor Center said the decline means her anemia has worsened.
What does a PCV of 13% mean?
PCV measures the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells. Jackie’s veterinary team considers the decline to 13% evidence that her anemia has worsened.
Do veterinarians know what caused Jackie’s anemia?
No. Ojai Raptor Center has not announced an underlying cause. Advanced diagnostic and expedited laboratory testing are underway.
Will Jackie receive another blood transfusion?
The center has not announced another transfusion. Jackie previously received blood donated by Spirit, a resident bald eagle at CALM Zoo.
Can Jackie return to Shadow and Big Bear?
No release has been announced. Jackie remains under veterinary care while specialists investigate her worsening anemia.
When will Ojai Raptor Center provide another update?
The center said it will share new information when it has a meaningful update. It has asked the public and media not to contact or visit the facility seeking additional details.
Source: Ojai Raptor Center Patient Update for Bald Eagle 26-519, August 3, 2026.