Southern California has lost a conservation champion. Friends of Big Bear Valley announced the passing of Sandy Steers, a dedicated biologist and the group’s executive director, on Wednesday at the age of 73. The environmental education nonprofit marked Steers’ death “with heavy hearts and great sadness” and has requested time to grieve before sharing additional information.
Steers was a passionate advocate for the Big Bear Valley environment, spearheading numerous conservation projects and standing against developers who sought to build in the area. However, she was perhaps best known for her unwavering commitment to eagle advocacy.
Eagles typically visit Big Bear only in winter to find food when their usual hunting grounds are frozen, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley. That changed in 2009 when a male juvenile eagle from Catalina began nesting in Big Bear during the summer months. Shortly after, a pair of eagles established a nest on the north side of the valley, reinforcing Big Bear’s importance as vital habitat for these majestic birds of prey.
By the fall of 2011, the first bald eagle chick hatched in Big Bear Valley was named Jackie, born to parents Ricky and Lucy. Friends of Big Bear Valley documented and monitored the eagles’ progress and spent two years fundraising and planning their biggest venture: installing live cameras trained on the eagles’ nest.
Thanks to Steers and the nonprofit’s efforts, the local nesting eagles became a sensation. Thousands of fans logged monthly into the camera feed to follow new adults arriving and their offspring’s growth. Jackie, the 2011 hatchling, is now the star of a 24-hour webcam perched 145 feet up in a Jeffrey pine overlooking Big Bear Lake. Alongside her partner, Shadow, Jackie’s life is broadcast live to eagle enthusiasts worldwide.
In 2025, three eaglets were hatched, with two surviving and eventually leaving the nest. This rare inside access, provided by Steers and Friends of Big Bear Valley, kept viewers coming back to witness their daily lives. While other eagle nest cams exist across the country, few attract as much attention.
Jenny Voisard, media and website manager for Friends of Big Bear Valley, credits the unique personalities of Jackie and Shadow, along with the dedication of Steers and the nonprofit’s volunteers, for the eaglets’ fame. Steers, who once volunteered as an eagle counter for the U.S. Forest Service, became a leading authority on Jackie and Shadow.
“She totally fell in love with this eagle,” Voisard said, referring to Jackie.
Roughly 25 years ago, the original anti-development group Friends of the Fawnskin—named after the Big Bear Lake north shore community—was formed to fight a planned residential development. Steers, who had recently moved from the more developed south shore, joined the effort. Many founders of that group transitioned to Friends of Big Bear Valley in the 2010s.
Steers notably led opposition against San Diego businessman Irving Okovita, who sought to build a 132-condominium, 175-slip marina on 12.5 acres of Grout Bay territory on the North Shore in the early 2000s. She was even named in a lawsuit accusing her of blocking the project. The lawsuit eventually died in 2006 along with the development proposal.
While that fight ended unsuccessfully, another development battle saw a different outcome. In September, San Bernardino County supervisors approved a 50-home project called Moon Camp despite concerns that it would eliminate crucial foraging areas for local raptors. The project site is less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow’s nest and is visible from the eagle cam. County officials maintain that Moon Camp underwent “extensive environmental review” and will not harm the eagles.
Bald eagle eggs generally hatch about 50% of the time, but the success rate appeared even lower in Big Bear. The installation of the eagle nest camera aimed to help wildlife experts understand this phenomenon, Voisard explained. A second camera capturing a broader view of the habitat was added in 2021.
Today, a dedicated team of volunteers and contractors monitors Jackie and Shadow around the clock. Some observers are located overseas to provide continuous coverage during U.S. nighttime hours. They meticulously document every nest visitor, every stick and “fluff” delivery, eagle calls, mating behaviors, and all matters related to the eggs.
Friends of Big Bear Valley also maintains a public-facing “eagle log” with regular updates, behavioral analysis, and educational content about the power couple. Steers “believed that balancing storytelling with science was the best way to engage people,” Voisard said. “This was all her vision.”
The eagle fandom has transcended boundaries of nationality, religion, age, and political views. Many schools use the nest cam as an educational tool to introduce children to Jackie and Shadow, while older or disabled viewers gain a virtual connection to nature they might not otherwise experience. Even emergency room workers have tuned in to unwind after stressful shifts.
Beyond her environmental work, Steers was a multi-talented individual. She was a children’s author and screenwriter and held a bachelor’s degree from UCLA, according to her LinkedIn profile. Steers also practiced Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), embraced the Inca tradition of Shamanic Healing, and believed in past lives. Her spirituality deepened after she recovered from Stage 4 cancer using alternative healing techniques, as detailed on her personal website.
Sandy Steers leaves behind a lasting legacy of conservation, education, and inspiration. Her passion for Big Bear Valley’s eagles and the natural world touched thousands, and her work will continue to resonate through the community she loved so deeply. Friends of Big Bear Valley and eagle enthusiasts everywhere mourn her loss and celebrate her remarkable life.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-12/sandy-steers-dies-activist-helped-launch-big-bears-popular-eagle-cam
