Injured ranger and eagle share second chance at life

MONTICELLO — A bald eagle was released back into the wild Friday in southern Utah after spending the past few months being rehabilitated.

The parks ranger who had the honor of releasing the eagle has quite a comeback story himself.

For as bad as this eagle wanted to be free, the man who released it knows all too well what getting back to life means.

Brody Young is the Utah State Parks ranger who was shot in the arm, leg and stomach during a routine traffic stop on Nov. 19. Police say he was shot after he encountered Lance Leeroy Arrellano while approaching the man in his car to tell him he was in a no-camping area. When Young went to verify the name and date of birth he was given by Arrellano, the ranger was shot nine times.

Two of the rounds were stopped by his Kevlar vest. Six entered his body, two of which have been removed. The ninth bullet was stopped miraculously by something in Young's pocket — a credit card.

Police initiated a massive manhunt for Arellano, but he has not yet been located.

Crash is an eagle who was hit by a car near Monticello on Christmas Eve. The 3-year-old bird suffered a broken leg and a fracture in the pelvic area.

The two share a similar story of survival, so when the team that rehabilitated Crash's broken leg thought about inviting someone to release him back into the wild, Young was the obvious choice. 

"They both almost lost their lives around the same time and have been through some horrific injuries and a long recovery," explained Debbie Pappas with Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Friday afternoon, near where Crash was hit, Young set the bird free.

"It was a pretty heavy bird,” Young said. “I was worried it was going to turn back around and go for my eyes or something."

Utah conservation officer T.J. Robertson said Crash is going to do very well. “There are no issues there,” he said.

Robertson was talking about the eagle, but he easily could've been talking about Young.

“It’s just a stamina issue, getting my strength back,” Young explained. "I’m gaining some weight and progressing, and my arms are doing really well, as well as the rest of my body."

Young is already back at work just a few hours a week. But come fall, he's hoping he'll be well enough to go back full time.

"I still have a surgery or two to go through, so only time will tell," Young said.

But like Crash, it's something he now has: time.

The eagle has a tag on its leg in case something happens, they'll know who it is.

For Young, he's just focused on getting better and trying to get back to normal as soon as possible.

E-mail: acabrero@desnews.com