Catch Me If You Can

Page 2

Run for Your Life

As fright-flight animals, llamas and alpacas attempt to survive any perceived danger by initially running away from it. Rescue methods that cause panic or push them into the flight mode are usually unsuccessful and may actually result in injury or death to the very animals to be rescued. It has been our experience that once the llamas or alpacas fright-flight responses are pushed to do serious running, it can take several hours or more for them to settle down again.

Animals in need of rescue often have little or no experience with haltering or leading. If you find this the case, a great deal of stress can be reduced by simply funneling the llamas or alpacas into progressively smaller areas. A human chain is an effective way to herd llamas and alpacas. It is important to walk behind the animals slowly and calmly in a forward motion towards the funneling area. White PVC poles, ropes, garden hoses or lead ropes stretched between people can serve as additional visual barriers. Pay close attention to each animal's reaction to the herding process. Watch for indications of potential panic or out of control behavior that may include challenging the barriers. Llamas often cue off one another. When dealing with multiple animals, if one decides to jump or run through a containment barrier, others may follow suit. Notice of any cues of potential panic allows time to re-adjust the approach and reduce the impending potential for panic.

An open trailer can be used as the fourth side of a catch pen. By continuing to shift panels to reduce the size of the catch pen, llamas can be moved closer and closer to the open trailer. If they don't jump inside on their own, they can be physically lifted and put inside the trailer. It is helpful for one or two people to remain inside the trailer to help with the lifting as well as prevent escapes.

Camelids should not be herded using dogs or horses, as is often done with sheep and cattle, nor should they be roped or caught with a lasso. Unfamiliar dogs will likely be viewed as predators, and roping can cause serious injury including snapping a llama's neck.

Pellets, Grain and Hay

Llamas and alpacas that are accustomed to being fed in a barn or catch pen are the easiest to catch. On the day they are to be relocated, feeding should be held off until shortly before the rescue group arrives. The animals usually can be confined with minimal stress since they will be busy eating in a familiar area according to a more familiar routine.

In many of the rescues we have done, the llamas and alpacas had never eaten grain, pellets or any type of treat. These animals were not particularly interested in approaching for such food. Some would nibble pellets as long as they could remain a safe distance from humans. Others were worried and cautious of our presence and were just too stressed to eat. In our experience, we have not been very successful luring rescue animals into a confinement area with grain. If the llamas or alpacas involved in a rescue are used to eating grain, then using grain as enticement may work very well. In some instances, a flake of alfalfa or orchard grass has also worked well.

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