Vet teams believe Jackie was already sick before eagle fight captured on video near Big Bear nest

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (KABC) -- Jackie, the beloved Big Bear bald eagle, remains in critical condition but is receiving care after she was discovered on the ground near Big Bear Lake.

The Ojai Raptor Center, where she's being treated, described Jackie's case as "very serious." Vet teams believe Jackie was already sick before witnesses spotted her in a fight with two younger eagles last week.

While she is alert and is eating, the center said in a post on Instagram that Jackie is experiencing severe anemia and inflammation affecting the kidneys. They're waiting on further test results to pinpoint the underlying cause.

Some things they were testing were for levels of zinc, rodenticides and lead. X-rays were performed, and no fishing hooks, sinkers or other metal objects were observed.

"Wildlife medicine takes time, and some answers simply cannot be rushed. As we learn more about this patient's condition, we will continue to share meaningful updates with you," the center said. "While the eagle remains alert and is eating, it is still too early to predict the outcome."

Jackie, the beloved Big Bear bald eagle, continues to receive care after she was injured and rescued but officials say her condition remains critical

What happened to Jackie?

New video is shedding light on what led up to Jackie being unable to fly and why she needed to be rescued.

The footage was taken last Friday by a couple who found her grounded on the north shore of Big Bear Lake and unable to fly. It shows Jackie fighting with two younger eagles, using her talons to fend them off.

Duke and Anne Blackwood were having drinks on their dock on Friday afternoon when they saw the attack.

"I mean, she was, at that point in time, she was not doing well," Duke Blackwood said

The Ojai Raptor Center says territorial disputes are normal for nesting sites and food sources.

Vet teams said Jackie was weak and vulnerable when the couple found her. They believe she was already sick, which is why she was vulnerable to the attack in the first place.

"It was pretty aggressive. She kind of rolled around on her back, her claws up, and then she acted weird after," Anne said.

The couple said Jackie moped around near the shore for a while. Later that night, when she hadn't returned to the nearby nest, they knew something was wrong.

"It was almost like 9:30 at night, a lot of coyotes. So we were not comfortable, any of us, leaving her there," Anne said.

But, they said they didn't really know who to call for help.

"I think even at one point, called 911 and tried to explain it was Jackie and Shadow, and I think the dispatcher was like, 'We don't know what you're talking about,'" Anne explained.

Eventually, they called the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

"As soon as they came around the corner and saw the eagle, they were like, 'Oh, this is our eagle. We've got it. You guys are good. We're going to stay here and do whatever it takes,'" Anne said.

That's when folks with the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation's San Dimas Raptor Rescue Team made the drive up to Big Bear and rescued Jackie.

She's currently recovering at the Ojai Raptor Center, where they say she's in critical condition -- underweight and having difficulty eating.

For now, Jackie's two eaglets from this season, Sandy and Luna, are old enough to fly and mostly fend for themselves, but they're also being cared for by their father, Shadow. The eaglets have fledged the nest, but frequently return for feedings.

"They're part of the family, and so, it's... they're us," Duke said.

How could such a strong, grown-up eagle get compromised?

"There's some clues in here. If a mature eagle was compromised, if it was injured, or if it was lead poisoned, for example, that could explain why it was unable to fly away," said Dr. Todd Katzner, a prominent wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who specializes in eagle conservation.

Rescuers are testing Jackie for levels of zinc, rodenticides and lead. In his research, Dr. Katzner says environmental toxins are a huge issue plaguing eagles.

"An injury like this is probably human-associated in the beginning, and it's a good reminder of the role that we play in the environment," Dr. Katzner said.

Rescuers say it could take weeks, maybe longer, before we could see Jackie's return.

"I don't want to speculate on that, other than to warn people not to expect it to be incredibly fast," said Dr. Travis Longcore with the L.A. Audubon Society.

"I mean, that's the whole goal here, is to have her back in the nest and so she can live another 10-20 years and have many more hatchlings," Duke said.

Dr. Longcore says it's very likely Jackie was sick even before the fight.

"The fact that that happened was the result of already being sick from something, so this wasn't because of the altercation with other birds, based on the reports of no acute injuries," Dr. Longcore said. "So we shouldn't even be talking about this as an injury, this is an illness."

Today, there are more than 70,000 bald eagle nesting pairs in the U.S. They're thriving compared to the sparse population we had in the 1960s. It shows how small human actions can make a huge difference.

Dr. Katzner says he doesn't use rodenticides in his home, and his friends who hunt use non-lead ammunition.

He says about 50% of bald eagles and golden eagles test positive for exposure to lead. In the U.S., it's mainly from lead ammunition, which is banned from hunting in California. Tests show about 89% of eagles test positive for rodenticides.

How are Shadow, Sandy and Luna doing without Jackie?

In an update on Wednesday evening, Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), the nonprofit that operates the eagle nest camera, wrote that Shadow is continuing to care for, feed and protect Sandy and Luna in Jackie's absence. They noted that he's been protecting the nest from other subadult eagles in the area.

FOBBV wrote that Luna even appeared to chase an intruder away a couple days ago.

Meanwhile, Sandy and Luna are exploring further out in the habitat and staying away from the cameras for longer periods of time despite still visiting the nest daily.

FOBBV said Shadow was seen with a subadult nearby on Wednesday, and volunteers believe it could possibly be the same female eagle that had a short skirmish with Jackie.

Many fans of the bald eagle couple have been concerned that Shadow might leave the nest while Jackie is away. FOBBV said they spoke to an expert who said that due to Jackie and Shadow's incredible bond, it is unlikely he will move on for now. The expert noted that Shadow likely won't be looking for a mate until his hormones kick in, which could be around the end of December or early January.

FOBBV added that it didn't have any updates on Jackie's condition for Wednesday.

"She has the best of the best and that is all we can hope for now," the nonprofit wrote on social media.