Overview
- The Ojai Raptor Center reported that Monday bloodwork showed Jackie’s packed cell volume fell to 13 percent which means her anemia has worsened since the last update.
- Teams performed an emergency blood transfusion from a donor eagle named Spirit and had seen a brief rebound before the recent drop in red blood cell levels.
- Veterinarians have ruled out several common causes including lead, zinc, aspergillosis, rodenticide toxicosis, obvious metal foreign bodies, and diagnosed renal disease while they run expedited advanced toxicology and infectious disease panels.
- Packed cell volume measures the share of red blood cells and a reading of 13 percent is critically low for a raptor because it limits oxygen delivery to organs and can be life threatening.
- Jackie is continuing intensive supportive care at Ojai while testing proceeds, and the case has driven large public interest and donations through the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest livestream which officials say should not interfere with medical teams.