A few weeks ago, we were introduced to Jackie and Shadow, the adorable bald eagle couple from Big Bear, who were in the middle of incubating their eggs. Not long after, we learned that the eggs had hatched, and now we’ve met their fluffy little eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo, who’ll soon be ready for their first flight.
But in the meantime, a surprise co-star has emerged: Fiona the squirrel. This mischievous little rodent has been making (very) frequent visits to the eagle family’s nest, often to the dismay and sleep deprivation of poor Jackie. But what’s behind her behavior? Is she an adrenaline junkie or just a clueless fluff ball?
Turns out, the relationship between the squirrel and the eagles goes way back, all the way to 10 years ago when the livestream camera was first installed. The eagles and their furry neighbor know each other well and even seem to share a certain level of trust. So much so that in a 2024 clip, Fiona can be seen doing full-on parkour over poor Jackie as she leaps from one side of the nest to the other:
According to experts, Fiona, along with her more low-key brother, Fast Freddie, stops by the nest mainly for two reasons: shelter and snacks. In an interview with LAist, Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit behind the YouTube livestream, explained that Fiona has a soft spot for fishtails, the ones Jackie and Shadow bring home during mealtime.
The eggshells, coot feathers and even crunchy beetles found in the nest are also tempting treats for this nosy little neighbor. But don’t worry, Fiona has never gone after the couple’s eggs. She’s only snuck off with some leftover shell bits after hatching.
Beyond the food, Fiona also seems interested in loose sticks scattered around Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo’s nest, valuable resources for her own nest, whose location remains a mystery… For now.