Jackie the Eagle on the Mend After Rescue and Recovery
WHO:
ABC News - Jackie, a bald eagle in California's Big Bear Valley.
Los Angeles Times - Noemi Navar, oversees the San Dimas Raptor Rescue; Kristine Koh, volunteer rehab manager at the rescue center; Jenny Voisard, media and website manager for Friends of Big Bear Valley; Kim Bosell, regional operations manager for L.A. County Parks.
WHAT:
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Jackie is confirmed to be recovering after an "altercation" with two subadult eagles.
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Jackie is currently "underweight but alert, perching and eating with assistance."
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - A full medical assessment is underway, with "diagnostic results that can take several days" pending.
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Jackie was seen on the ground near Dana Point Park, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, after the altercation.
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The rescue team arrived at 2 a.m. after being contacted by Capt. Dennis Jones and his team from the local San Bernardino County fire station in Fawnskin.
Los Angeles Times - A bald eagle believed to be Jackie was rescued and is in stable condition at a rehabilitation center.
Los Angeles Times - The rescue took about five minutes.
Los Angeles Times - The eagle was found weak, underweight, and with disheveled feathers.
Los Angeles Times - The eagle was moved to the Ojai Raptor Center for further care.
Los Angeles Times - A full medical assessment is currently underway at the Ojai Raptor Center.
WHERE:
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Jackie was found near Dana Point Park, approximately 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
ABC News - Big Bear Valley, California.
Los Angeles Times - Big Bear Lake, California; Ojai Raptor Center.
WHEN:
Los Angeles Times - The eagle was rescued over the weekend.
Los Angeles Times - Rescue team arrived around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
WHY:
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The public attempted to contact several agencies for help with no response until the situation was reported to the local fire station.
Los Angeles Times - The eagle's condition was likely due to a fight with two younger eagles and possibly lead poisoning from fishing gear.
HOW:
[12:02 p.m. ET] - USA Today - Capt. Dennis Jones and his team stayed with Jackie to protect her from other wildlife and human interference until the rescue team arrived.
Los Angeles Times - The eagle was loaded into a crate with a blanket for transport to the rehabilitation center.
Los Angeles Times - The San Dimas rescue personnel used “she” to refer to the eagle, though they clarified the sex could not be easily determined.
(UPDATED July 21, 2026 22:20 UTC)
Jackie, a bird who recently experienced an altercation with two subadult eagles, is confirmed to be recovering and is currently underweight but alert, perching, and eating with assistance. She was found near Dana Point Park, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, after the public struggled to get help until the situation was reported to the local fire station. Capt. Dennis Jones and his team stayed with Jackie to protect her from other wildlife and human interference until the rescue team arrived early in the morning.
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(UPDATED July 21, 2026 12:24 UTC)
A bald eagle believed to be Jackie was rescued in Big Bear Valley, California, and is currently in stable condition at the Ojai Raptor Center, where a full medical assessment is underway. The rescue team, led by Noemi Navar and supported by volunteers, arrived early Saturday morning and took about five minutes to transport the weak and underweight eagle, which had disheveled feathers and may have suffered from a fight with younger eagles or lead poisoning. The eagle was carefully loaded into a crate with a blanket for transport, and while the rescue personnel referred to her as “she,” they noted that the eagle's sex could not be easily determined.