Jackie’s death shocks the world. How humans in her SoCal home remember the eagle

The death of Jackie, the matriarch of Big Bear’s famous bald eagle nest, has quickly become international news.

People from around the world are mourning Jackie’s loss and remembering her as a fierce protector, a dedicated mother and the bird that inspired thousands to learn more about nature and wildlife.

Tributes are pouring in from individuals and organizations alike, including the San Bernardino County firefighters who kept watch over Jackie as she was waiting for rescue and the L.A. County officials who connected her with care.

TJ Fraser, a resident of Big Bear Valley’s unincorporated community of Fawnskin, described Jackie as a “neighbor” who was a “really important part of this community.”

Fraser said people were deeply pulling for Jackie’s recovery, but as fans come to terms with her death, he’s started to see more hope for the future of the nest and her longtime mate Shadow.

“I think that that's the real great lesson and the takeaway from this,” he said. “Nature adapts, nature always finds balance; that's how it works. And tomorrow is another day.”

State wildlife officials said Jackie’s remains will undergo a necropsy at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance before being transferred to the National Eagle Repository in Colorado.

The repository is a one-of-a-kind facility run by federal wildlife officials. It stores and distributes eagle remains to federally recognized Native American tribes for religious, cultural and ceremonial purposes.

Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that launched the popular eagle livestream, said it does not have any input on how Jackie’s remains are handled.

Jackie's death earlier this week quickly became international news.

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BBC, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Hindustan Times, Modern Ghana, CBC, People, San Bernardino Sun, Los Angeles Times, ABC 6, Friends of Big Bear Valley

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Makenna Cramer

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Jackie’s stardom is a big deal

Fraser said his “phone blew up” when Jackie’s death was announced, and the instant reactions of sadness and shock were “overwhelming.”

“It really showed me how much that bird resonated with people around the country and around the world,” he said. “It was truly remarkable.”

But Jackie’s legacy will be intact forever, Fraser said, through the $10 million fundraiser that preserved acres of land near the feathered couple’s nest.

“What she was able to represent brought people to a place of, ‘We want to protect this for them,’” he said. “And that'll never go away.”

Melanie Stagnaro, a resident of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon neighborhood, has been watching Jackie and Shadow for about six years. She said she was stunned by the news of Jackie’s death, but not entirely surprised since Stagnaro thought something may have been wrong with her earlier in the season.

Stagnaro blamed her concerns about Jackie’s condition on the trials of motherhood, which is what helped draw her more into the livestream in recent years.

“I know there's so much more to her, but for me, it was identifying to her as a mom,” Stagnaro said, adding that her kids graduated high school and “left the nest” while Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets were learning to fly and do the same.

Jackie covered under a blanket of snow on Feb. 25, 2023.

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Friends of Big Bear Valley

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YouTube

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Jackie and Shadow's eaglets during a feeding of fish in April 2025.

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Friends of Big Bear Valley

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YouTube

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Jackie and Shadow welcomed a third egg on Feb. 24, 2026, after losing their first two.

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Friends of Big Bear Valley

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With Jackie gone, Stagnaro has started to turn her affection to Shadow, whom she described as a “stud” and a “great dad.”

“He is amazing too, and … I do hope there's another mate for him,” she said. “And I do hope they keep it at this nest, you know?”

State officials and orgs are still mourning

Jackie’s legacy extends beyond the individual impact to institutions and state leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“California mourns Jackie, the Big Bear bald eagle who reminded us of the beauty and wonder of California’s wildlife, and our shared responsibility to protect the habitats that sustain it," Newsom said in a statement Tuesday.

Visit Big Bear said Jackie captured the hearts of the mountain community and so many beyond.

“We know you are with Sandy now, watching over Big Bear together,” the group said on social media. Sandy Steers, the late leader of Friends of Big Bear Valley, died in February.

The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, which kept watch over Jackie while she was waiting for rescuers, said it was inspiring to see the community come together with compassion and concern for her well-being.

The Institute for Wildlife Studies, which helped bald eagles return to Southern California’s Channel Islands, said Jackie became a powerful symbol of resilience, beauty and the importance of protecting wildlife.

“While we mourn her passing, we also reflect with gratitude on the legacy she leaves behind,” the institute said on social media Tuesday. “May Jackie’s story continue to inspire compassion for wildlife, stewardship of natural places, and a commitment to protecting bald eagles and other wild species.”

Support ‘In honor of Jackie’

The Ojai Raptor Center, which gave Jackie intensive care for about three weeks, is still seeing a flood of donations after her death, according to its website.

Around 20,000 people have supported its bald eagle recovery campaign. Thousands of dollars were donated throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, along with messages like, “In honor of Jackie and all you did to save her,” and, “ALL OF YOU ARE HEROES for your dedication & tireless work for Jackie and every animal you care for."