For several days, Jackie’s absence left an unanswered space in the skies above Big Bear Lake.
Shadow continued carrying food through the territory. Sandy and Luna, the pair’s newly fledged eaglets, moved among familiar trees as they adjusted to life beyond the nest. But the latest Friends of Big Bear Valley Eagle Log entry specifically naming Jackie was dated July 13, when she was seen resting with both young eagles on the Lookout Snag.
Three days later, an adult bald eagle was observed on the ground near Dana Point Park in Fawnskin. The bird was seen again on July 17, when footage showed two subadult eagles confronting it.
The adult rolled onto its back and raised its talons to defend itself. Although it survived the encounter, it remained unable to fly far enough to escape. The Friends of Big Bear Valley Eagle Log reports that the adult eagle was already on the ground before the two younger birds confronted it. There is no confirmed evidence that they caused the injury or condition that prevented it from flying.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on July 18, the San Dimas Raptor Rescue team was dispatched to Big Bear. The trip took more than two hours. When rescuers arrived, personnel from San Bernardino County Fire Station 96 were monitoring the eagle.
The bird was secured, stabilized and transferred into specialized rehabilitation care.
Why rescuers believe the eagle may be Jackie
Friends of Big Bear Valley initially urged caution. Jackie and Shadow are unbanded, which means neither carries a numbered identification marker that could immediately confirm the rescued bird’s identity.
Instead, the organization reviewed photographs and videos provided by members of the public and people involved in the eagle’s care. Based on that visual evidence, it said the rescued adult was likely Jackie. The identification has not been presented as definitive.
Jackie’s history in the valley makes that uncertainty especially significant. Friends of Big Bear Valley traces her to the first known bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear Valley in 2012. Because she was never banded, observers have followed her through her age, plumage, behavior and continued presence in the territory.
No detailed veterinary update had been released by early July 20. The public reports available at that point did not identify the rehabilitation facility or disclose a diagnosis, treatment plan, prognosis or possible release date. It also remained unclear what first prevented the eagle from flying.
The timing comes during another important transition for Jackie and Shadow’s family. Their 2026 nesting season had already included the loss of an early clutch, the laying of two replacement eggs and the successful hatching of two eaglets in April.
Those chicks later became Sandy and Luna, names chosen with local students through a process involving Friends of Big Bear Valley. Sandy’s name also honors the late conservationist Sandy Steers, who helped bring the Big Bear eagles’ lives to a global audience.
Sandy made her first flight on June 28 after an accidental departure from the nest area. Luna followed the next day, flying to a nearby tree where Shadow was waiting.
Fledging, however, does not mean that a young bald eagle is immediately independent. The young birds must still strengthen their flight skills, improve their landings and learn how to find food. Their parents continue supporting them during that transition.
Even before they fledged, regular nest viewers had begun using small differences to tell Sandy and Luna apart, including variations in size, head shape, mouth line and vocal behavior.
The official Eagle Log recorded Shadow continuing to deliver food after the eaglets left the nest. His presence offers some continuity while Jackie receives care, but it is too early to predict how her absence may affect the family or how long it may last.
For now, only part of the story is settled. An adult bald eagle unable to fly was found, protected and transferred to specialists. The evidence indicates that the bird is likely Jackie, but her condition and path forward remain unknown.
The next meaningful update will come from the people caring for her or from Friends of Big Bear Valley. Until then, caution is part of telling Jackie’s story accurately.
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