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Originally printed in Llama Life II, Winter Issue 2004-2005, No. 72: reprinted with permission from LL2 and authors.

Catch Me If You Can

By LANA Lama Lifeline (Sheila Fugina, Cris Jennings, Charlene Schmidt, Cathy Spalding)
www.gentlespiritllamas.com

One of the greatest operational challenges facing individuals involved in llama and alpaca rescue work is the art of actually "catching" them for the physical relocation from one property to another. Normally, it isn't a matter of just hooking up the trailer and transporting the animals to a new home; there is that very real "catch me if you can" aspect to factor in.

Animal control officers are very familiar with various methods of catching and relocating dogs, cats and even horses, but many haven’t the faintest idea how to deal with llamas and alpacas in rescue situations. In fact, without the benefit of the familiar structural containment used on their own farm or ranch, llama owners are often stumped when faced with catching untrained or frightened animals.

There are many factors involved in a successful camelid rescue. The better job we do in rescue situations, the less traumatic it will be for the llamas and alpacas involved...not to mention, ourselves! Below are some of the catching lessons learned through our own rescue experiences.

"Beam Me up, Scotty"

Since we don't have the Starship Enterprise teleporter to beam llamas and alpacas from one place to another, it behooves us to be as well prepared as possible by previewing the site where the rescue animals are located in order to determine catching and loading options. What is the access to the property? Is it steep, narrow or rugged? Will four-wheel drive vehicles be needed? Will rain, snow or mud complicate the rescue? Is a turnaround available? If several vehicles are needed, what type (vans, horse trailers, larger stock trailers) and how many? Is there a staging area and turnaround available for multiple vehicles? How many people might be needed for the specific situation; invite one or two more than needed to cover the unexpected.

Can trailers be brought right up to the animal living space, or will the animals need to be walked out or funneled through an area to the vehicles? Is there a small pasture or is there significant, wide-open acreage? Are there existing areas that can be used for containment, or will catch pens need to be erected? Are there materials on site to make effective funneling channels and catch pens? Portable panels or hog panels are convenient for construction of temporary catch pens. We have also used combinations of existing pasture fencing, several trailers, and temporary plastic mesh fencing for funneling and containment.

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.

One Llama Is Interesting, Two Are a Herd

Single animal rescues are different from multiple animal rescues. Multiple llamas already have the comfort and companionship of their own herd. Introducing a new llama is usually viewed as a curiosity or possibly a breeding partner. During one rescue experience of three intact males living on vast acreage, we erected a funnel area leading into a smaller catch/containment area. We brought in a single llama on the other side of the containment area. To access the new llama, these three llamas would have to enter the funneling area and end up in the catch pen. Feeling stronger in a herd group, it is something they all did without hesitation. While they were checking out the new llama, we quickly closed the access and had them confined in the catch pen for trailer loading.

It was discovered during two other rescue outings involving single llamas that to introduce only one new llama was not enough. Each of these single llamas (in one case a gelding and in the other case a pregnant female) lived alone on a large amount of acreage. Each llama happened to be halter and lead trained and also liked grain. Though in each case, the llama came closer to look at the new llama, they refused to be lured into a catch pen area to interact with that llama. In both instances, however, they responded when two new llamas were introduced. In the one case, the gelding was overcome with curiosity about the two llamas and dropped all caution to come close enough to be physically restrained with a quick neck hug. In the second situation, the female, who had shown a distant interest in a single llama, now followed the new "herd of two" over a considerable distance and into a containment area where she was caught and haltered.

Every Rescue Is Unique

No matter how well planned, we often find Murphy's Law comes into play. Be prepared and learn to expect the unexpected, remain flexible, and do not be afraid to improvise. Something that worked in one rescue may not be as effective in another. Flexibility and creativity are two of the most critical tools for any rescue situation. Do not place any rescue catching effort on a timetable. While some move smoothly from start to finish, others might require reorganization of the initial strategy or even a time-out period. Remaining calm and relaxed in oneself as well as amidst whatever might happen will make the entire journey much less stressful for all.

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