Jackie the eagle’s caregivers face intense response

"At this stage, our priority is to provide (Jackie) with the supportive care that she needs, while closely monitoring her welfare and allowing our veterinary team and consulting specialists the time necessary to carefully evaluate this week's findings," he said. "Every decision that we make continues to be guided by her medical condition, her welfare, and what is in her best interest."

Jackie the beloved bald eagle of Big Bear Lake in California is assessed at the Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai, California.

Update on Jackie: Beloved bald eagle critical as blood levels drop again

Stressed-out eagle fans want more information

In the roughly three weeks since Jackie has been at the Ojai Raptor Center, her caregivers have provided nine health updates, along with many photos and videos of her care. One video they shared showed Jackie being hand-fed, sitting in an oxygen chamber, being placed under anesthesia for diagnostic testing, and getting a blood transfusion that initially saved her life.

When several days go by without an update, her fans get anxious and some of them get angry. Someone even began an online petition demanding more updates.

"Heartbreak has turned to frustration. Fans and wildlife advocates are struggling to get clear, consistent information about Jackie's condition and care," the petition says. "The agencies and organizations responsible for her care have a responsibility to keep the public informed − not just with vague status updates, but with meaningful transparency about her diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis . . . The millions who love her deserve to know."

The raptor center has said they are sharing new information when they have it. The Friends of Big Bear Valley has denounced the petition, saying this week that it "does nothing for Jackie, hinders her care team and only heightens people's anxiety over the situation."

"It is important to let Ojai do their job without interruptions. Please do not call, text, show up at their doors, or demand frequent updates," the group posted on Facebook.

"It is a disappointment to see individuals leaving nasty comments on Ojai Raptor Centers Facebook updates and elsewhere," the group continued. "Their goal is to get Jackie healthy and release her back to her territory, please let them do their job."Voisard believes that people are overwhelming the raptor center, and Friends of Big Bear Valley, because they are preparing themselves for the worst and even pre-grieving the beloved bald eagle, triggering a stress response in some of them.

"It's really freaking people out and what people tend to do in this situation, because there's a lack of control and visibility, and certainty, they try to seek out information as a way of coping," she said. "We're experiencing that on steroids because of social media and because of Jackie's fanbase."

In a new update, the Ojai Raptor Center said Big Bear bald eagle Jackie underwent advanced diagnostics on Wednesday in what was a "significant day."

In a post to Facebook, the veterinary center said Jackie received a contrast CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy. She's been under the center's care for more than two weeks after she was rescued following a fight with two other eagles.

The center added that she recovered well from anesthesia and is now resting in her recovery enclosure with supplemental oxygen.

"Our veterinary team, together with our scientific advisory council and consulting specialists, are now reviewing today's findings alongside her previous test results," the center said. "Additional lab work is still pending. We will share a more comprehensive update once we have had the opportunity to review everything."

Jackie and her partner, Shadow, have gained fame after being observed for years on the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, run by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. As a couple, they've hatched and raised several eaglets, including Sandy and Luna, who hatched in April.

In their own blog post, the FOBBV asked the public to allow Ojai Raptor Center to keep doing its job without interruption. 

"Ojai will give updates when they have any new information to report," the blog reads. "They are doing their best to treat Jackie with supportive care while trying to find the root cause of her illness."

The FOBBV told the public not to call, text or show up at Ojai Raptor Center's doors.

"There is a petition out there, that FOBBV does not support, demanding updates for the public. None of us are entitled to any information, this petition does nothing for Jackie, hinders her care team and only heightens people's anxiety over the situation," FOBBV said. "It is a disappointment to see individuals leaving nasty comments on Ojai Raptor Center's Facebook updates and elsewhere. Their goal is to get Jackie healthy and release her back to her territory, please let them do their job."