Jackie the Eagle's Home Needs $10M to Block Development

Jackie the bald eagle has captivated over 350 million viewers since 2015, and now those fans have a chance to return the favor.

Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust are racing to raise $10 million by July 31 to purchase 62 acres on Big Bear Lake's north shore. The land is home to Jackie, her mate Shadow, and their offspring, who have nested there for years while millions watched via webcam.

Without the fundraiser's success, developer RCK Properties plans to build 50 custom homes and 55 boat slips on the property called Moon Camp. The project would destroy the open space that makes the area suitable eagle habitat.

The stakes are deeply personal for the conservation groups involved. Sandy Steers, the former executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley and a land trust director, passed away shortly after finalizing the purchase agreement. She had been the driving force behind the deal.

This isn't the first time locals have fought to protect Big Bear. The land trust formed in 1995 when residents joined forces to stop another development, and Friends of Big Bear Valley was created in 2001 to fight this same Moon Camp project.

The Ripple Effect

Jackie's webcam has done more than entertain. It has educated the public about bald eagle conservation and brought awareness to habitat protection issues affecting birds of prey across North America.

The campaign shows how digital connection can translate into real world action. People who have never visited Big Bear feel invested in Jackie's story because they've watched her raise eaglets, weather storms, and thrive in her natural habitat.

If successful, the purchase will protect not just one eagle family but preserve open space for countless other species that share the ecosystem. The 62 acres represent a rare opportunity to keep wild spaces wild in an area facing increasing development pressure.

The clock is ticking, but Jackie's millions of fans now have a concrete way to protect the bird who has brought them so much joy.