They're llamas, whose ancestors were native to Kansas 3 million years ago. Members of the camel family, they are now native to the South American Andes in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Other South American camelids include alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas.

Well, they do. But a llama that is raised properly only spits at other llamas, usually in disputes over food or personal space. Llamas that have been bottle-raised in petting zoos or other places where they aren't in a herd may not be properly socialized and they may take an occasional shot at a person just because they don't know any better!

Llamas have been domesticated in the Andes for 10,000 years as beasts of burden. Today they are widely used in the U.S. as pack animals and also raised for their fine fiber. Some are excellent guardian animals with sheep and goat herds. They pull carts. Some people even use them as caddies on the golf course! And of course with their calm intelligent disposition they make great pets to just enjoy as companion animals.

They are capable of kicking or biting, and may be quite aggressive at predators. However, it's very rare that they would respond to a human in this way. Generally it would be a sign of a mistreated, untrained and unmanageable animal in need of training. 

Llamas are eaten in South America, secondary to their role as pack animals. But there is not a market in this country for them as meat animals. 

A llama in decent condition will carry about 1/3 of its body weight, so up to 80 - 120 lbs. Llamas typically may weigh between 250 - 450 lbs. and live from 15 - 30 years. Llamas' feet have a cushiony leathery pad rather than a hard hoof, resulting in very low environmental impact on trails compared to horses and mules.

They eat grass hay, and perhaps small amounts of grain and mineral supplement. They are browsers somewhat like deer, nibbling on brush as well as grass. They have a compartmented stomach like other ruminants such as sheep and cattle. Yes, they even chew their cud like other ruminants.

Called 'crias', they are born after an 11.5 month gestation, typically weighing between 18 and 30 lbs. Although it does happen, twins are quite rare. The females are induced ovulators and will breed anytime during the year. 

Although the Incas called them our "speechless brothers", you may hear them hum when they're mildly anxious. They even cluck. They have an alarm call that's somewhat like a combination of a horse's whinny and a donkey's bray. Males scream at each other over territory. When breeding, males 'orgle' .

You're lucky. Llamas also come in many colors and patterns, with white, black, red, grey, even rose or peach showing up in solids, stripes, paints, and appaloosa patterns.

Email us at the Blue Heron Prairie, or contact the Golden Plains Llama Association in this region or the International Llama Association.