Petition seeks to bring bald eagle Jackie's remains back to Big Bear Valley

Community members and local advocates are pushing to preserve a piece of Big Bear Valley's wildlife legacy, rallying behind a petition that asks federal authorities to grant a special exemption so the remains of Jackie — the valley's beloved bald eagle — can return to the area where she became famous.[1]

Jackie was a well-known figure in Big Bear Valley, drawing visitors and locals alike who followed her life and nesting seasons.[1] Her death prompted an outpouring of community feeling, and supporters are now channeling that grief into action.

The road ahead is not simple. Under standard federal wildlife law, all deceased bald eagles are subject to specific federal disposition requirements — rules that would ordinarily prevent Jackie's remains from being retained locally.[1] Those requirements exist under longstanding federal protections for bald eagles, which are strictly managed at the national level.

The petition asks federal authorities to grant an exemption to those rules, a request that would be unusual and whose legal precedent is unclear. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the federal agency that oversees bald eagle protections, had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication, and its position on whether such an exemption is possible has not been confirmed.

What's next: Residents who want to follow or support the petition effort should watch for updates from local advocacy groups and KBHR Big Bear News. If the petition gains traction, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service would be the key federal agency to contact regarding its feasibility.