OSHKOSH, Wis. — Inside MToxins, you can find a number of slithering venomous creatures. They make anti-venom from snakes and scorpions.

On the weekends they also open up an educational exhibit for the public. About a year ago they added a bald eagle named Ladybird.

“She was hit by a truck in Crivitz feeding on a carcass on the side of the highway,” said Nathaniel Frank, MToxins owner.

The injured eagle was brought to Raptor Education Group in Antigo for rehabilitation. She survived but her left wing was permanently damaged.

“She can never fly again. All she can do is hop around,” Frank said.

Frank has worked with injured eagles before, including a bird with only one wing. He took over care of Ladybird.

“Federal law mandates that if a bird of prey cannot be rehabilitated and released into the wild or placed with an educational institution, they’re euthanized,” explained Frank. “So she’s with us for the long haul.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in 1963 there were only 487 nesting pairs of eagles remaining. Younger generations aren’t as awestruck with getting up close to an eagle. To them, eagles are a fairly common bird. But those who saw eagles driven to near extinction have a different reaction.

“Older folks come in and just cry,” said Frank. “They get very emotional spending time around this bird and being able to get as close as they can to her.”

The community has responded to Ladybird. During the bow season, Frank puts out a call for hunters to bring in fresh organ meat. Frank tries to replicate what she’d experience in the wild as much as possible.

Ladybird is about five years old. Her crown will continue to get whiter as she ages. Eagles in captivity can live to be well over 30. It’s a long commitment for Frank but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s something I always wanted. Any way to work with animals,” said Frank. “It’s all about teaching conservation. It’s all about the importance of these animals in the ecosystem and how we can protect them and keep them so generations can enjoy them.”

These two are working to keep bald eagles a common sight for generations to come.