After a setback, Big Bear eagle Jackie's health improves: she's 'much more feisty'

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Set us as preferred Internet-famous bald eagle Jackie’s health is improving after a scare over the weekend, the latest twist in a saga that began when the raptor was rescued near Big Bear Lake earlier this month.After receiving a life-saving blood transfusion last week, her blood values dropped again Saturday, the Ojai Raptor Center, which is treating Jackie, said in a social media post.They described it as a setback.

“Since then, she has improved once more,” the center said Monday.“She is eating on her own, her energy and alertness have noticeably improved, and she has become much more feisty during feedings.”The center cited her “packed cell volume” — which measures the percentage of red blood cells in her bloodstream — as one of the most hopeful signs.

It doubled to 16% on Monday compared to before the weekend.While still below normal, it’s “an encouraging improvement,” the center said.

Climate & Environment OpenAI’s Greg Brockman and his wife donated $5.5 million to conserve land near famed Big Bear eagles’ nest as Jackie remains in critical care.The $10 million goal is now met.It’s welcome news for Jackie’s legions of fans, who watch her and her mate Shadow bond and raise chicks via a livestream of their nest.

But the matriarch isn’t out of the woods yet after being found weak and unable to fly on the north shore of Big Bear Lake on July 18.Experts still haven’t determined what’s causing the eagle’s troubling symptoms, including kidney inflammation and severe anemia.

Amid the positive developments, with the inflammation improving, she remains in critical condition.While experts try to lock in a diagnosis, the center reported she’s receiving several prophylactic treatments and they are “cautiously hopeful.”To the joy of many Jackie supporters, news broke Friday that Op...