Scout's Story - He Was on the Run

Scout was the name given to one of the intact males that was included in our recent Jefferson, Colorado llama roundup. There were 12 wild males (out of 24) living on a large ranch (160 + acres) that were gathered up in June and rehomed or placed in temporary foster care with Southwest Llama Rescue volunteer. This is not an easy or simple effort and requires experienced llama handlers and a strong coordination among the team. We were lucky to have caught these llamas in two days. Day one: create the corral that can contain 24 jumping males. Day 2: manage to herd them into the corral, sort out half of them and load those scared llamas into the trailers. Seven of the twelve went to a temporary foster facility only about 55 miles away in Divide, CO. Scout was one of those seven but was the only one who was still intact in that group. This is a story about Scout and his companions that moved to Divide. Scout is a beautiful rich brown color (insert photo) and (more description?)
A side note: The other five males were driven to New Mexico and were younger than the Divide group who were placed in their forever homes as soon as they arrived in Albuquerque. They are all adjusting well to their new homes with other young male llamas to run with and are getting along great.
As typical of wild llama round ups on large properties, the ages of the llamas were not known -- other than an estimate of; if they were gelded, they were at least 7 years old, and if they were intact, they would have been born on the ranch, making them younger. So, we deduced Scout is younger than 7. Of course, with wild llamas, it was not easy to tell if they were gelded or not until they were sheared or handled.
It was the decision of the foster care to have all 7 males sheared the following morning of their arrival. This was to be their first experience being handled by people and we were very concerned about how this would affect their adjustment and trust in people. But the decision was ultimately that of the foster parent who was planning to also halter and lead train anyway and the deficit of trust would have to be regained by them. The shearing commenced with professional shearers using the tie and stretch on the floor method which was quick but still not without trauma and stress. The early shearing did reveal some very thin llamas under heavy coats that had never been shorn before. Nails were not an issue since their home turf was great for keeping them down. Fighting teeth trimming was not part of this as that would have likely required medication, which was not used. 

Never-been-shorn males in a barn for the first time in their lives.

Pre-shearing wool hides the true body condition of the llamas.

​This is good background for what happened with Scout a couple of days later. The shearers were called back to adjust the halters that were too loose. Another rough-handle situation that was done inside the barn. One can imagine what the llamas are thinking given how they are handled every time they go in the barn. On day three, our foster parent was working hard to manage the ranch and the new llamas and was going about the business of feeding and working around the yard. Scout typically appeared relaxed with his companions, but that day decided to leap over the panels (and another fence or two) and ran off into the pasture where the females and a gelded male (their guardian) were frequently grazing on over 50 lush acres. This should have been expected once Scout observed the females come and go a couple of times. A 5 foot panel and fence is not much of a deterrent to an intact agile young male.
Our assumption was that if the females were brought back in, Scout would return. A month passed and the foster parent spent many hours looking for him on the 100-acre property. The ATV may have scared him off. There was plenty of food and water for a smart wild llama like Scout and he had no need to return to the corrals and barn. We hoped that he was not on the highway somewhere, caught by the 15 inch lead attached to his halter and immobilized, or fallen by a mountain lion or other predator. 

​Then, a Facebook message came to our foster parent that a llama was spotted about 3 miles west of the foster home and not far from the highway. Maybe he was working his way back home. A party of 10 people led by the foster parent included the local animal control and some friends to catch Scout again. SWLR was not contacted until two attempts were made that weekend to no avail. Lynda Liptak got the call that it was just too much and the stress of running around trying to pickup Scout could cause someone a heart attack. So, it was left up to SWLR and the professionals to recover Scout. Again, we were dealing with a wide-open area – this time hundreds of open acreage, and a wild llama with all he needed. Except companionship.
Lynda was indisposed in Albuquerque so she contacted Robin Benton in Monument, Colorado to request her help in getting Scout back and to lead his rescue. Robin and Lynda also reached out to Stage Stop Llamas for a female bait llama to use to interest Scout into approaching. Jeff Rucker of Stage Stop Llamas was very kind to help out and brought a female llama and Robin brought her male llama and Bailey (last name?) from 4H to assist out to the field. 

​Along with Trixie (last name?) and the other great folks at Teller County Animal Control, Jeff, Robin, Bailey, and a pair of llamas, they headed out into the field where Scout was seen. Scout took one look at the pair of llamas, called out an alarm, and ran up into the trees and hid. So much for that idea. Animal control left since they were discouraged from driving out to him on their ATVs and did not have the time to wait him out. Jeff left with his female llama since that did not seem to work. So, Robin and Bailey were the last ones standing.
Robin opted that they sit down in the shade of a tree and see what happens. Her male llama Obe (Sp?) was in the old dilapidated corral within sight, hanging out calmly. But within about 40 minutes, Scout came charging out of the trees and made a straight line for Obe right into the corral to perform a male challenge posturing. Robin and Bailey quickly sealed the corral and got Obe to safety. Fantastic! In less than an hour, Scout was trailered up with the help of animal control 

To the credit of Robin’s tremendous awareness of llama behavior, Scout was finally recovered. And, due to her generosity, and patience, Scout is now fostered at Robin’s with doubled fencing and then 6’ high panels to domesticate him, build some trust, and eventually find him the right home. Scout has become a very sweet llama and can be gently handled. Scout is very attentive and curious, and is going to be very trainable. He does seem a bit traumatized around his neck and head, probably from the rough shearing and the halter discomfort from a poor fit and being on for about a month. He will allow Robin walking right up to him and touching his withers freely. We hope that he will soon be adopted along with a couple of his buddies from his heard so that he can feel safety and comfort.
Southwest Llama Rescue is a 501(c)3 and has several llamas that are needing qualified homes. Please help us with homes, donations, assistance. We are all volunteers looking out for quality of life for all llamas.