Update 3/15/2025 9: 39pm EST: Friends of Big Bear Valley has confirmed that internet-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow have lost one of their three eaglets. A statement shared Saturday read:
“We are sad to let everyone know that one of Jackie and Shadow’s chicks did not make it through the severe winter storm that brought over 2 feet of snow to the area. The chick’s passing happened some time after all three were observed together getting fed at 6 pm on 3/13.
We do not know what happened or why it passed. The shorter snow berm now makes that chick partially visible in the nest bowl, on the right side.
We do not know which chick it was because they were very close in size. We understand completely how hard this is to hear. Please allow yourself to grieve and feel whatever you feel. Please honor the chick for its courage in getting as far as it did and doing whatever it came to do.”
Update 3/15/2025 4: 37pm EST: In addition to the earlier statements seen below, FOBBV has debunked a few rumors regarding what happened to one of Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets. At this time, the eagles have not removed anything large enough from the nest bowl that would be a chick. Also, Shadow did not step on any of the chicks; rather one of the chicks had been laying on his foot (which is not uncommon) but had been safely rolled back into the nest bowl.
Update 3/15/2025 11: 13am EST: FOBBV issued an updated statement: “Viewer Discretion: Sadly, it is possible the remains of the missing chick may have been observed in the nest bowl, on the right side. We are waiting for more clear visuals to confirm and will keep you updated. We know that both the possibility and the uncertainty are hard to hear. We share these feelings with all of you. We have no way of knowing which chick was lost because they were very close in size; they also grow and change very quickly at this stage.“
Update 3/15/2025 9: 45am EST: On Friday evening, FOBBV released a statement: “Sadly, it is possible the remains of the missing chick may have been observed in the nest bowl, on the right side. We are waiting for more clear visuals to confirm and will keep you updated. We know that both the possibility and the uncertainty are hard to hear. We share these feelings with all of you.“
Internet-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow potentially lost one of their three eaglets overnight. Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that runs the 24/7 live