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:
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| 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!
