OJAI, Calif., Aug. 7 (Nationwide Times) — Jackie, the bald eagle known from the Big Bear Valley nest camera, remains in critical condition while receiving intensive veterinary care at the Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai, California. The center’s most recent update said her packed cell volume, or PCV, had fallen to 13%, showing that her anemia had worsened.
The update came after Jackie briefly showed signs of improvement and moved out of the intensive-care unit. Ojai Raptor Center officials said advanced diagnostic and expedited laboratory testing were underway, but the center had not identified the underlying cause of her illness.
What is Jackie’s condition?
Jackie is being treated for severe anemia, a condition in which the blood does not carry enough oxygen. Veterinarians are also treating inflammation affecting her kidneys, according to the Ojai Raptor Center.
PCV is a measure of the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells. The center previously reported that Jackie’s PCV rose from 8% to 16% after a weekend setback. The increase was an encouraging sign, but the level remained below normal. The later decline to 13% indicated that the anemia had worsened again.
The center has not released a confirmed diagnosis or prognosis. It said testing ruled out lead toxicosis and foreign objects, including fishing hooks, fishing line and weights. Earlier reports said testing for other possible causes, including zinc or rodenticide exposure, was pending; the supplied updates do not give results for those tests.
Why did Jackie leave intensive care?
Ojai Raptor Center reported on July 29 that Jackie had moved from its intensive-care unit to a regular hospital-care unit because she no longer needed oxygen therapy. The center described that move as a recovery milestone but stressed that Jackie remained very sick and still required intensive treatment and monitoring.
The later drop in PCV means the move out of intensive care should not be read as a recovery or release. The most recent information available does not establish whether Jackie remains in the regular hospital unit or has returned to intensive care.
Before the decline, the center said Jackie was eating independently and had more energy and alertness. It also reported that she had eaten and perched after receiving a blood transfusion.
How was Jackie treated?
Jackie received a blood transfusion as part of her emergency treatment. The donated blood came from Spirit, a resident bald eagle at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield. The Ojai Raptor Center called the transfusion an important milestone in her treatment.
A transfusion can provide red blood cells while veterinarians investigate why an animal is losing or failing to produce them. It does not, by itself, resolve the underlying cause of anemia. That cause remains undetermined in Jackie’s case.
How did Jackie reach the Ojai Raptor 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 involving two other eagles and transported the bird to the Ojai Raptor Center. ABC News described the rescued bird as presumed to be Jackie.
The available information does not provide definitive identification details for the rescued bird. The case connects several California wildlife-care organizations: the county rescue team, the Ojai Raptor Center and the California Living Museum, which provided the transfusion donor.
For now, Jackie’s status remains serious. The Ojai Raptor Center is continuing treatment, monitoring and diagnostic testing, and has not announced a release date or a confirmed explanation for the anemia and kidney inflammation.
