A Llama for Christmas

 

MEET THE NEW LLAMA AT SHANGRILLAMA!

December 25, 2011

Yearling Como T. Llama is a
Chilean and Argentine Appaloosa...with dreadlocks!

Over the past eight months, interviews have been taking place between Mama Llama and quite a variety of southern California llamas. The objective: to add two llamas to the ShangriLlama pack, particularly a spotted llama, known as an Appaloosa; and a brown llama with dreadlocks, called a suri. The day before Christmas, Mama Llama decided on one precious yearling bearing both characteristics. What a great two-fer this holiday season!

Como T. Llama is a first-generation American llama, the offspring of an Argentine-born mother and a Chilean father. This spotted llama has curly wool on his legs and ears! Como T. Llama is sweet, curious, spunky and confident. His breeder is a four-time national champion performance trainer. What a perfect addition for our small zoo!

Como T. Llama Meets His Big Brothers

Pack members really like their new baby brother. Dalai Llama is trying to win Como over as his new best friend. Barack O’Llama, the old best friend, doesn’t mind, because Barack has appointed himself Leader of the Little Ones and has been standing very tall and regal since Como’s arrival. The real pack leader, Pajama Llama, is not insulted by Barack’s posturing but is keeping a watchful eye over all three young llamas. Bahama Llama is curious about Como but prefers to spend his time guarding his feed pile.

Dalai Llama Can't Wait to Play
With Como T. Llama

Barack O'Llama and Bahama Llama
Check Out the New Kid on the Block

Pack Leader Pajama Llama
Convinces a Cousin to Help Create
Some Holiday Cheer

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from

Pajama Llama

Bahama Llama

Barack O’Llama

Dalai Llama

Como T. Llama 

Mama Llama & Family

Llamas Meet Their Congressman

LLAMAS MEET THEIR CONGRESSMAN

December 8, 2011

The ShangriLlama pack often stays up way past their bedtime to discuss politics. Conversations last a long time, because the pack consists of two Republicans (Bahama Llama and Pajama Llama), one Democrat (Barack O’Llama) and an Independent (Dalai Llama). Discussions are usually peaceful, especially when the Dalai Llama leads the group.

But one evening, Barack O’Llama was reading the local newspaper and learned that his meadow, located in the new Congressional District 39, had been redistricted. Most of the llamas didn’t know what that meant, so 12-year-old Pajama Llama explained from experience. He said that every ten years, everyone’s counted in something called a U.S. Census. It takes place, in part, so that all 435 U.S. Representatives represent an equal amount of people. “That seems fair,” said the Dalai Llama.

Then Barack O’Llama took out his I-Phone and learned about the leading candidate for the redistricting of the meadow. “It’s Ed Royce!" Barack exclaimed. “He’s a huge animal lover and a horseman. Let’s invite him over for a 'round-stable' discussion about today’s issues!” The others agreed.

U.S. Representative Ed Royce

The pack couldn’t sleep a wink the night before they met the congressman, because they were excited about so many neighbors coming to their animal adventure park to hear him speak. So Pajama Llama, the pack’s leader, had the boys choose their favorite cookie recipes, and the llamas spent the entire evening baking and decorating.

When Congressman Royce arrived, he explained a variety of issues so clearly that even the llamas could understand them, and then he fielded questions from the “packed” house. The llamas paid special attention to the discussion of grain subsidies, grassroots organizations and watchdog groups. 

Bahama Llama and Pajama Llama
Hear Good Things From Congressman Royce

At the end of the event, the llamas asked for a group picture with Congressman Royce, who greeted them with open arms.

Congressman Royce Easily Gains Pack Approval

So even though the ShangriLlama pack is a mixed bag politically, they all fell in love with the leading candidate to represent them in Congress, and from the looks of it, the feeling was mutual.

“I never imagined that redistricting could be so much fun!” exclaimed Barack O’Llama.

Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side of the Fence?

IS THE GRASS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE?

November 23, 2011

DURING THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, Mama Llama can’t help but think that thankfulness is not a characteristic of barnyard animals. In most cases, animals don’t like to share their food, and they’re prone to believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. This is true of llamas in two ways.

 First, llamas are sure that the other members of their pack are eating tastier morsels than the food that has been put in front of them. So instead of enjoying their food and being thankful that they no longer have to forage for it, they engage in what Mama Llama calls The GAG Dance (Grass is Greener Dance). It goes like this:

The most dominant llama will gently bump a less dominant llama from his feeder. The bumped llama will then pester another llama to move away from his feeder. And so it goes until every llama has eaten from every feeder. At the end of the dance, each llama seems satisfied that he has found “the greener grass,” even though the feeder contents are identical!

 Second, llamas are sure that the blades of grass outside their fence line are greener--thus juicier and tastier--than the blades inside the fence line. But plenty of barnyard zoo animals think the grass is greener out there, not just llamas. Take a look!

Llamas and their herbivore friends have a good reason for wanting what’s just out of reach. It turns out that the grass does appear to be greener on the other side of the fence! Here’s why: If you look straight down at grass, brown spots and patches are quite visible. But if you look across a field of grass, essentially at an angle, you will notice that the color green is much more dominant.

 But what was gained by craning the neck and contorting the body? Better grass? No. That’s because the grass is not really greener on the other side; it’s just an optical illusion.

Barnyard animals serve as a good reminder that straining for something we don’t have looks awkward, can be futile and often doesn’t make us any happier if we get it. Food for thought!

 Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving from Mama Llama and her pack of greedy critters.

Just a Grassy Knoll, Part One

JUST A GRASSY KNOLL, PART 1 OF 2

November 9, 2011

LLAMAS LOVE HIGH PLACES. After all, they hail from the Andes mountain range across South America, which averages 2-1/2 miles high. So Mama Llama was thinking it would be nice to add a mountain to her llamas’ meadow, or more realistically, a lovely grassy knoll. To accomplish this feat, Mama Llama dragged  invited Papa Llama to accompany her to Home Depot. Together, she was sure that this one-size-fits-all supply store would help them find just the right materials to enhance their animal attraction.

Future Site of ShangriLlama's Grassy Knoll

Before proceeding, dear reader, please know that Mama Llama delights in the funny looks she receives  when she “casually” mentions that she has a pack of llamas in her backyard. Saying the “L” word (Llama) makes most people’s brains misfire, resulting in this typical response: “I’m sorry. Did you say…llamas?” It really is quite amusing. So imagine Mama Llama’s excitement at the possibility of stumping and stunning a Home Depot customer service rep by requesting a grassy knoll for her la-la-la-la-llamas. What great fun!

                              

When Mama and Papa Llama arrived at the Home Depot customer service desk, Mama Llama smiled big. Then she “innocently” asked:

Mama Llama

“Hi! How has your day been so far?”

Home Depot Rep #1

“Not bad. A little dull. It’s been slow this afternoon. Do you have a great project on your mind?”

Mama Llama (thrilled by the perceptive question)

“Well, as a matter of fact, we do. We’d like to build a grassy knoll in our meadow. What kind of fill material might we use?”

Home Depot Rep #1

“A grassy knoll, huh?” We don’t get a lot of requests for that. What do you want to use your knoll for?”

Mama Llama (amused by the rep’s deeply furrowed brow)

“We’d like to give our llamas a hill to play on.”

Home Depot Rep #1

“Your what? Did you say llamas?”

Mama Llama (going in for the kill, because the rep’s mind had short-circuited)

“Yes, we have a small zoo for llamas, and they like to play King of the Hill. So we need a grassy knoll for them to climb and push each other off.”

Home Depot Rep #1

At first, the poor guy was stunned silent. Then he bit his lower lip to hold back a laugh. Finally, his eyes twinkled, which meant that his brain was coming back online, and he was ready to play along!

Home Depot Rep #1

“Well, you could use clean fill soil, but the llamas would crush that down over time. You might want to consider pea gravel, which packs more tightly. But we only sell those items in bags, and you would need a dump truck full. You might also want to consider crushed granite, which won’t decompose.”

Mama Llama (prolonging her amusement at the rep, who was barely hanging on to his composure)

“Would you please show us the options that you have in stock? We’ll also need a lot of grass seed to make the knoll grassy, of course.”

Home Depot Rep #1(eager for a reality check from another employee)

“Sure! Follow me.”

Moments later, our rep came across a group of three men who were stocking shelves. He asked them the following, "simple" question:

Home Depot Rep #1

“Hey, guys. What are the best materials to create a grassy knoll for a pack of llamas?”

Time seemed to stop as the three men stood dumbfounded. Finally, one man blurted out the following:

home depot Rep #2

“You have llamas? How cool. Why do you have llamas? Where do you keep them? They like to climb? You want to build a grassy what?”

Mama Llama then explained the project to everyone and chuckled at the frequent interjections from Rep #1, who was now in full command of his senses and enjoying twisting the minds of his fellow employees.

Then Rep #1—who had grown quite fond of Mama and Papa Llama for making his day so amusing—whisked us away for a tour of all the options for creating the grassy part of our knoll. We looked at grass seeds, various types of Astroturf and even burlap. Then we thanked him and said that we’d return with our decision about the grass but wanted to create the knoll first. One must be logical about such things! So we went to the car to phone companies that sell dump trucks full of clean dirt and crushed granite. But it was too late in the day to reach any of them, because we had overindulged in fun at Home Depot!

So as soon as Mama and Papa Llama can go shopping for dirt and gravel, we’ll post Part Two of “Just a Grassy Knoll.” And eventually, we’ll have video to show you of our pack of llamas playing King of the Hill.

Until then…Happy Trails!

Llama Car Wash

LLAMA CAR WASH

October 8, 2011

HERE'S HOW TO WASH A LLAMA 
IN ONLY THREE HOURS

STEP ONE: Find or make a Llama Car Wash, which looks like this:

Pajama Llama Stands in a Llama Car Wash

STEP TWO: Wet the llama using an ordinary garden hose.
Pajama Llama volunteered to drench his own coat for this blog story.

Pajama Llama loves sprinklers! When this animal encounters water, he's interested! He likes to put both his feet in water buckets, stand in a child’s wading pool on hot days, and drink seven gallons of water each day during the summer months. But Pajama Llama and his pack members are not fond of soap on their coats! That’s because they know that llama wool becomes dried out if washed frequently with soap. You see, unlike sheep wool with its oily (and itchy) lanolin, llamas have little to no oils in their coats, which makes them hypoallergenic! It’s best to wash a llama two times a year maximum to keep the wool looking silky and the skin healthy. Of course there are expensive llama shampoos and cream rinses for more frequent shampoos. But if you wash a llama only twice a year, Tide Detergent works quite nicely. Truly!

STEP THREE: Soap up the llama. Mama Llama decided not to coax Pajama Llama back into the chute. Instead, she put Dalai Llama in and let the groomer work her magic on this white llama. Here's what a wet, sudsy llama looks like:

Dalai Llama Gets a Shampoo

Which is more pathetic: a wet cat or a wet llama?

STEP FOUR: Remove the soap. With llamas, that’s not easy. Sudsy soaps are difficult to rinse out, but they do a fine job of cleaning dirty llama wool. Life’s a trade-off, isn’t it? The solution in this case is, of course, a drip hose! That is nothing more than a hose with holes in it every few inches. Just run this hose down the llama’s coat over and over…and over and over…and over and over again. You’ll get all the soap out in about...an hour. No kidding.

STEP FIVE: Dry the llama immediately, or he will roll his clean, wet coat in the dirt. How do you dry a llama? Easy. Use a leaf blower--those obnoxiously loud devices that gardeners choose to turn on during the wee hours of Saturday mornings. Leaf blowers are ideal for drying heavily drenched llama wool, although it takes about an hour, because silky llamas have an undercoat and an overcoat of wool.

STEP SIX: Brush the llama's coat. Brushing feels great to some llamas, while others really don’t like it. Bahama Llama loves to be brushed. In fact, he uses a street sweeper's brush to groom himself in between shampoos, like this:

Bahama Llama Fluffs His Coat With a Street Sweeper's Brush

If the llama won't brush himself, then groom him with a dog's brush to remove tangles and to fluff the wool. This step can take an hour!

Here's what Dalai Llama looked like after washing and drying him. His mane is still a little wet.

The Freshly Washed Dalai Llama

STEP SEVEN: As soon as the llama is mostly dry, let him out of the Llama Car Wash. He’ll run at top speed back to his pack of friends, who will sniff him as though he’s a visitor. To fix this social problem, the newly cleaned llama will roll in the dirt and look like one of his unwashed buddies. What's Mama Llama to do but laugh and wait six months to wash the llama again!

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

P.S. ShangriLlama would like to add a second street sweeper brush, 

so the llamas can walk between them and self-groom. 

Please send an e-mail to llama@ShangriLlama.com 

if you know where we can buy a second brush. The first one came with our ranch.

Much appreciated!

Living With Llamas

LIVING WITH LLAMAS

July 25, 2011

What do llamas do all day? That’s what Mama Llama and her family were dying to know but couldn’t find out. You see, until six weeks ago, the ShangriLlama llamas lived in stables at a horse facility. We would visit them daily—sometimes twice a day—to walk them in an arena, or to take them on a trail or to the park. But that just wasn’t enough “quality time” for us.

That’s why we searched far and wide for the ideal horse property. We wanted to live with the llamas! Finding this property took more than a year. You see, it had to be zoned for four or more horses, have enough room for the llamas to roam freely, be safe from coyotes, be located close to a fenced walking trail, and be livable for the humans in our family, too! Only one property fit this description, and we found it through a horse club leader who is also a realtor.

The ShangriLlama Meadow

 

When we first moved in, we expected to see the llamas playing day and night in their meadow, jogging up and down the property for exercise, and sticking their long necks over the gates to greet the neighbors. That’s not what happened.

Instead, they fill their days by eating meals, chewing their cud in between meals, and lying in the sun. Llamas are l-a-z-y!

Bahama Llama & Pajama Llama Like to Sunbathe!

 

Without a doubt, the best way to enjoy llamas is by walking them. Then they become quite beguiling as they venture very close to greet you, when they request a treat, and when they roll around in the sand to scratch their backs—all the while making virtually everyone they meet smile about their unusual animal encounter. A well-trained llama puts on quite a show when he’s led by his harness and leash!

Even though llama life is not as exciting as we thought it would be, we’re still mesmerized by their beauty as they graze in their very own meadow, and we’re so happy that the pack has the freedom to roam safely. Our neighbors seem to be amused by our “funny looking horses,” as many have called them. Life with llamas is peaceful, and in today’s world, that truly is a good thing!

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

What's A Llama Good For?

WHAT'S A LLAMA GOOD FOR?

May 6, 2011

WHY DO PEOPLE ENJOY THE COMPANY OF LLAMAS? After all, they look a bit intimidating with their bulbous eyes, banana-shaped ears and giraffe-like necks.

The Dalai Llama & Barack O'Llama from ShangriLlama

Most likely, it is because llamas are naturally gentle and compliant. That’s also why they’re among the world’s oldest domesticated animals, which is a very small group of critters that have a friendly disposition, will procreate in captivity and don’t mind being fenced in.

Here’s the entire list of domesticated animals, in the order they were domesticated:

Dog, sheep, pig, goat, cow, cat, chicken, guinea pig, donkey,
domesticated duck, water buffalo, horse, dromedary camel, llama,
silkworm, reindeer, rock pigeon, goose, Bactrian camel, yak,
banteng (cow), gayal (cattle), alpaca, ferret, Muscovy duck,
guinea fowl, common carp, domesticated turkey,
goldfish, and European rabbit 

Are you wondering why the panda, lion and zebra aren’t on this list? These animals and others like them can be tamed, but they are certainly not naturally friendly or compliant, which means they probably never will be domesticated are are best encountered in a wild animal zoo.

Domestication has proven to be a very good thing for llamas—and for us. Because of the scarcity of food in the harsh wilds of South America, llamas would have become extinct if not for the people of Peru in about 3,500 B.C., who chose llamas to serve as beasts of burden. Now all over South America, llamas are used to carry up to 1/3 of their weight in cargo as far as 15 miles a day.

Since the 1970s, llamas have been at work in the U.S.A. in a variety of capacities, including:

Hiking

Take a pack of llamas on a hike through the woods or along a mountainous area. They can carry your camping equipment, and because llamas are so agile, they can quickly maneuver out of the way of oncoming horses and other hikers.

Carting

 Llamas can pull one or two people in a specially designed cart. Such llamas must be at least four years old (fully grown) and trained for the task, but llamas learn quickly.

Walking

If you’d like to spend some time getting to know the nature of llamas, take a pack of llamas for a walk! Llama Walks enable you to learn about these incredibly interesting creatures by observing them up close.

Educational Sessions

If you'd like to watch llamas interact with one another, sign up for Llama Llessons to learn about these fascinating animals from head to toe. You'll be surprised just how different llamas are as compared to other barnyard animals.

Golfing

If you can find a golf course that will allow you to use a llama for a caddy, then you will surely distract and impress your opponents--and everyone else within view. Don't forget a small rake and shovel to pick up the llama beans. Offer them to the groundskeeper for use as fertilizer.

Showing

 Many llama owners participate in llama shows, which are similar to dog shows and horse shows. Llama owners are awarded ribbons and sometimes prize money for having the llama with the best wool, disposition, cart driving, obstacle driving, haltering or performance. There are special youth awards, too. The offspring of award-winning llamas are considered more valuable when sold, which brings us to our next subject...

 Breeding

This activity requires a breeder's license, a horse-zoned property, proper acreage--and lots of time. But baby llamas, called crias, sure are cute! 

Spinning 

A month before the summer season, llamas are shorn for the wool that they grow. This luxurious, highly valuable wool can be cleaned, spun, dyed and knit into clothing, rugs and accessories.

Loving

 It’s easy to fall in love with llamas, because they are so beautiful, gentle, intelligent and quirky. No wonder they were domesticated long ago.

Here’s hoping you get to spend some time with a llama soon, whether it is for exercise or for the pure pleasure of being with them.

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

Bahama Llama Walks For Children With Cystic Fibrosis

BAHAMA LLAMA WALKS FOR 
CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS

March 24, 2011

Bahama Llama from ShangriLlama
Will Join a Walk for Children with Cystic Fibrosis

In Mama Llama's neighborhood, three children in the same family have been afflicted with cystic fibrosis. Their parents have invited Bahama Llama to participate in the most heartwarming animal adventure of his life, and that is to help raise money toward funding research on this cruel disease. Of course, Bahama Llama is honored to help!

So on Saturday, April 30, 2011, Bahama Llama will participate in the GREAT STRIDES fundraiser. He will walk up to three laps around the beautiful man-made lake at East Lake Village in Yorba Linda, CA., and he is looking for volunteers to help sponsor him.

As you know, Bahama Llama is a little overweight. Okay, a lot overweight. He weights 350 pounds! His Peruvian llama cousins weigh about 30 pounds less. Oh my! So this walk will be good for Bahama Llama. It will also be good for the three Montelone children and others with life-threatening lung and digestive orders caused by cystic fibrosis.

If you would like to sponsor Bahama Llama in the GREAT STRIDES event, please click this link to make a donation in any amount.

http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/BahamaLlama

Bahama Llama thanks you for encouraging him to take as many steps as he can to help the three children. Their parents thank you for caring about their kids. And the CF Foundation thanks you, too, for helping to fund research to cure cystic fibrosis.

And if you’ve never seen a llama, then you might enjoy coming to the GREAT STRIDES event on Saturday, April 30, 2011, to meet Bahama Llama, to feed him his favorite snack, or to take a picture with him. And don’t worry; he doesn’t spit! He's a former show llama, so he's fluffy, gentle, friendly and very well-mannered.

Happy Trails!

 

To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Llama Lips

LLAMA LIPS

March 20, 2011

WHEN A LLAMA EATS, 

IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S PLAYING THE PIANO!

Click just once on the video below
to watch as Dalai Llama and Barack O’Llama
pretend to run their fingers up and down a keyboard
while they enjoy some teeny-tiny snacks:

Did you notice that their split upper lips move independently?

Take a look at these lovely llama lips:

Barack O'Llama Shows Off His
Gorgeous Lips

 Guess what lies beneath the upper lips? 

Nothing! 

Llamas have NO upper front incisors!

Here’s a partial view of Dalai Llama's palate. 

Can you tell that he wasn’t fully cooperating for this photo?

Dalai Llama Reveals That
Llamas Don't Have Upper Front Teeth

Instead of upper front teeth, llamas have hardened gums.

These gums serve as a firm cutting board
for the llama’s lower front teeth
to chop up hay or grass or pellets.

So…do llamas bite you when taking food from your hand? 

No! 

Llamas don’t have upper front teeth!!! 

 They merely tickle your cupped hand. 

It’s fun to feed llamas, 

so the next time you're at a private zoo that houses a pack of llamas, 

be sure to watch the llamas' lips grasp, flap, quiver 

and pretend to play the piano 

as these hilarious animals enjoy 

grass, hay or treats provided to you only by the zookeeper.

(Llamas have a delicate diet, so please don't bring the llamas your own treats.)

Here’s a video of Dalai Llama devouring one of his favorite treats--
a very large bundle of fresh grass.
Yummy! Click once for a laugh!

 

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

Llama Show Dropouts

LLAMA SHOW DROPOUTS

March 5, 2011

Everyone knows that there are dog shows, cat shows and horse shows. BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE LLAMA SHOWS? Just imagine 100 llamas getting together to determine which one has the best wool, the best body (conformation), or is the highest jumper or the best all around. Strange but true!

If you want to do something really different, why not attend a llama show? These animal adventures take place in various parts of the country, and the schedule is published at: https://secure.lamaregistry.com/news/calendar-of-events.php

The llamas of ShangriLlama all come from parents that have won Grand Champion, Reserve Champion or blue-ribbon prizes. And all the llamas here have won prizes themselves at llama shows. But once a llama decides he doesn't want to compete anymore, not much can be done except let the animal become a llama show dropout. So instead of training to pose, walking through obstacle courses, jumping high or pulling a cart, these llamas spend their days wrestling with each other, lying in the sun or cooling in their air-conditioned barn, or socializing with visitors, and they especially like to eat, eat and eat! Sounds like a fun schedule to me! If there were a competition for gorgeous, pampered, friendly, overfed former show llamas, then Mama Llama’s entire pack would win.

Just how playful are the ShangriLlama llamas? Here’s a video clip of  Dalai Llama taking a piggyback ride then cheating at wrestling with Barack O'Llama. Click just once to enjoy!

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!

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!