Of Mice and Popcorn?

OF MICE AND POPCORN?

February 17, 2011

Guess what it smells like when llamas release a hormone to warn the rest of their pack that danger is lurking? Some say it smells like the odor of mice (yuck!), while others liken it to burned, buttered or caramel popcorn. It depends on the llama whether the scent is mousy or reminiscent of a variety of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn line. In the same way, when humans feel threatened, we release a scent from a gland under our arms. Some of us don't smell too awful, while others definitely do! So it depends on the llama's own level of hormones whether you'll be treated to the aroma of popcorn or the wonky smell of mice.

 Mama Llama smelled the llama hormone a couple years ago during a Llama Walk, when the pack was passing through the middle of a large, grassy field. Out of nowhere, the scent of popcorn filled the air! Of course there was no popcorn stand in the field, so how was this possible? Then Mama Llama remembered about llamas releasing a scent when these animals experience fear. The scented llamas were yearlings, and yearlings are prone to overreacting. Maybe a dog that looked like a coyote came into view? If so, it was long gone, but the popcorn scent lingered. It was as strong as the scent of popcorn sold in carts at Disneyland, where blowers send the enticing aroma at the crowd. There was no need for anyone to dip their head to take in the smell. And that would be a bad idea, anyway, because llamas have powerful legs used to accelerate quickly and to kick predators. They don't kick people without provocation, but they do have a reflexive response to kick out if you grab their legs. Good to know!

That day in the field, it was Bahama Llama sending a buttered popcorn scent our way. Dalai Llama, however, let out a burned popcorn smell. That was unpleasant, but at least it didn't smell like mice!

Llamas release their scent from oval-shaped, leathery glands located on their lower back legs (metatarsals). Here’s what that patch looks like, courtesy of the very handsome Dalai Llama:

Dalai Llama's Metatarsal Scent Glands

 

On numerous Llama Walks, people have noticed Dalai Llama's lovely scent glands and have asked if he had a boo-boo. Nope! Scent glands are just highly visible on light-colored llamas. Every llama has scent glands, but most of these narrow patches are covered by wool. Dalai Llama is a Peruvian llama, which are known to have relatively little wool below the knees.

 If a llama continues to be concerned about a perceived threat, he escalates from emitting a scent through his metatarsals to screaming at the predator. Learn more about that in the story called "Llama Alarm Cry" found in this blog's index.

 Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

Llama Cookies

LLAMA COOKIES

February 11, 2011

During this Girl Scout Cookie Season, 

the ShangriLlama llamas are ruminating about a new flavor they’d like to propose, because it is…

…as enticing as Thin Mints™,

…as delicious as Tagalongs™,

…as exotic as Samoas™,

…as flavorful as Lemon Chalet Cremes™,

…as playful as Do-Si-Dos™,

…and as shapely as Trefoils™!

Introducing Llama Cookies!

Enough Llama Cookies for a Pack!

These seemingly magical cookies disappear in the blink of an eye when presented to almost any llama. They’re irresistible! The “boys” think that people will like these cookies, too! Watch the way the pack surrounds Llama Boy, hoping for a llama cookie morsel: 

Surely, a cookie flavor that nearly causes a stampede should be considered for addition to the Girl Scout Cookie catalog! But until these cookies are widely available by Girl Scouts, the llamas invite you to make your own at home. Here’s the secret recipe:

Llama Cookie Recipe

1 cup uncooked oatmeal
1 cup flour
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup molasses

Set your oven to 350 degrees. Mix the above ingredients together. Form tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Place the raw dough on a cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes. Wait 10 minutes for the cookies to harden. Then, enjoy a cookie yourself—as long as you give one to a llama, too!

And don’t forget to support your local Girl Scout troop by purchasing at least one box of cookies this season. Top flavors are listed in the first paragraph. 

The above trademarks are owned by the Girl Scouts of America, which does not endorse Llama Cookies. Maybe someday?

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

Should You Own a Llama?

If you have been smitten by a llama, you may be fantasizing about owning one. In fact every single week, Mama Llama encounters someone that desires to own a llama. Those woolly, friendly, funny llamas are irresistible. But should you own one?

Best Friends: The Dalai Llama & Barack O'Llama

Well, you can't just own ONE. Llamas live in social groupings called packs. A llama all by himself would pine away and die! So you would have to buy...not one more llama but TWO MORE! A pack of three is the minimum number for the animals to feel safe. That's a small pack. A medium pack totals five llamas, and a large pack has six llamas. After that, you've got multiple packs, which equals a herd, and they usually have separately fenced living quarters according to their age and temperament. Additionally, males do not live in the same enclosure with females after they are weaned.   

Four of the llamas in ShangriLlama's medium pack.

Within a pack, one llama is the leader, and the rest jockey for their position based on winning or losing wrestling matches and other llama activities. When danger lurks, llamas in a pack rush together and stand strong against a predator. A pack is a family unit, and llamas do well in groups of three to six.  

It is true that a single llama or two females that possess a guardian's temperament can be used to protect small livestock, specifically alpacas, goats and sheep. Llamas will defend these critters with their lives. But llamas thrive within their own species. And there are other animals well-suited as guardians of small livestock, especially Anatolian Shepherds, Great Pyrenees and donkeys.

Llamas must exercise daily and they need room to run. About an acre is a good starting size for a small or medium pack. But first check with your city hall for zoning laws relating to "head per acre." In some cities, four llamas can live on a single acre, while in other cities, four llamas must be allotted four acres! 

ShangriLlama's Playpen

 
Llamas must live on land that is zoned for horses or livestock, even if the land is big enough for a small or large pack of llamas.

Very few veterinarians are trained to come to the aid of a sick llama. Llamas are remarkably hardy animals, but you may be hard-pressed to find qualified emergency medical care. Why? Llamas have not been studied long in the U.S., and most veterinary schools don't teach about them.

There are more than 125 common plants that are poisonous to llamas. Clear identification and cross referencing of every single plant and weed must be made before bringing llamas onto your property. That's why llamas live on dirt-lot properties or within fenced grassy fields, usually far enough away from neighbors that leaves don't blow into the llamas' field. In the spring, diligence is required to remove plants that grow seemingly overnight after birds, rabbits, squirrels and other critters move from yard to yard.

Llamas can easily pick up the parasites of other barnyard zoo animals.  At most farms, critters share land, and there's little harm if one species eats the food of another species. Not so with llamas housed with chickens, goats and sheep, which eat feed and supplements that are not good for llamas. Parasites are also a problem for llamas that can easily pick them up from other farm animals. Whitetail deer, especially, must not pass through the llamas' enclosure. Instead of living with other species, it's best that llamas live next to the rest of the barnyard animals on the other side of a fence. 

Llamas are sensitive to heat and humidity. They grow wool--about six pounds each--which must be removed just before summer and again mid-summer in southern states. Even without their coats on, they need fans pointed low at their digestive system, where they get the hottest. Shelter is necessary year-round to protect these animals from the overhead sun and rain, and to keep their feet and bellies warm and dry in the winter. 

So, should you own llamas? Yes, they will enhance your life and be on track to live long, healthy lives themselves if...you have properly zoned, cleared and fenced land plus a great veterinarian with experience caring for this relatively unusual pet, and a temperature-controlled shelter. Whew! 

But if that's not your situation, you can still visit llamas at local zoos, animal adventure parks, wildlife attractions, plus some private zoos like ShangriLlama! And if you'd like to learn about llamas, do come for a Llama Llesson during the summer in the llamas' air-conditioned barn.

Happy trails from the llama-smitten Mama Llama!