September 4th proclaimed California Wildlife Day in memory of the beloved Big Bear eagle, Jackie

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) — Jackie the Bald Eagle, whose life at Big Bear Lake captivated millions around the world, is being honored by the California State Senate.

Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) introduced Senate Resolution 140, proclaiming September 4, 2026, as California Wildlife Day in memory of Jackie. The resolution passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

Jackie became an international wildlife sensation in 2015 after Friends of Big Bear Valley installed a livestream camera at her nest. For more than a decade, viewers followed Jackie and her longtime mate, Shadow, as they raised eaglets and faced the challenges of life in the wild.

Her final chapter drew renewed attention this summer. Jackie was found injured and grounded at Big Bear Lake in July after an altercation with other eagles. She was taken to the Ojai Raptor Center, where she received intensive treatment, including a blood transfusion. Despite efforts to save her, Jackie died August 10.

Her death sparked an outpouring of grief in Big Bear, with residents and visitors leaving flowers, photographs and other tributes. For many, Jackie had become a familiar presence in their lives through the nest livestream.

“Jackie captured the hearts of people in California and around the world, giving so many of us a front-row seat to the beauty, strength, and resilience of wildlife,” Strickland said. “Her story reminds us that wildlife conservation brings people together.”

The resolution also recognizes California’s extraordinary biodiversity and the importance of protecting its natural heritage, including species such as the bald eagle, California condor and Mojave Desert tortoise.