Common Questions About Pack Llamas
Do they spit? This is a lot like asking if dogs bite and horses kick. Yes, they do, but it is rare, and gives all dogs and horses a bad name. Llamas will spit at each other in order to establish dominance, and you can get caught in the “crossfire” if you’re not careful. However, a properly trained llama will not spit at humans. Period.
Can you ride them? By all means, if you want to be seen riding high in the saddle on a lop-eared, kind of doofy-looking mount. Seriously, because of the poor weight distribution of the rider (all in one spot), the carrying capacity for a rider on a llama is limited. A small child (less than fifty pounds) is the maximum. We’ve had great fun having kids riding llamas in parades. However, these exceptions not withstanding, it is best to view llamas as pack animals, not mounts.
How much can they carry? A full-grown male llama (three to four years old) can carry one-fourth to one-third of his body weight. With a large male weighing in at 350 pounds, you can look at carrying almost 100 pounds. However, I find I make better time if I stay around 60 – 70 pounds. If they’re overloaded, llamas will lay down in the trail, or get balky. If he’s out of shape, old, or acts particularly difficult, the load should be lightened. Another consideration is hunting trips, where you don’t want to go in with a max load because you may be packing out meat.
Do you pack food for them?
On the trail, llamas will be content to graze on native grasses and shrubs. Their impact is low, comparable to a large deer. Thus, unless it is very early or late in the season, there’s no need to pack fodder for them. However, you do have to water them daily.
How fast do they go? On the average, you can expect to make about a mile an hour on the uphill, about a mile and a quarter on the downhill. These are averages. I’ve made as much as 2 miles an hour on a good trail, and as little as ¾ a mile an hour on a bad trail (lots of deadfall, major stream crossings, etc).
What about going off-trail?
Common sense should dictate the circumstances. Marshy areas, boulder fields, thick brush, areas with a lot of deadfall, extreme slopes, talus slopes and the like are best avoided. As long as the llama feels you know what you’re doing, you’ll get through with few problems. But, if you get in an area where you’re hitting obstacles and are consistently unsure what to do, they will pick up on your mixed signals, get confused, and start to get balky. So, unless you are retrieving game or something like that, it is generally best to keep to trails, even if it is just a game trail. You’ll make better time, and there are fewer hazards.
Are there any down sides to llama packing?
As mentioned, the pace is a little slow. Also, you are dealing with animals, not machines, and they do have personalities. Some like to lead the group, some like to take in the scenery, some try to take snack breaks along the trail, and so forth. Also, as with horses, there is always the potential for a wreck on the trail, with packs getting shaken off or animals getting tangled up. This can be a bother to unravel. But, for the most part, the plusses far outweigh the minuses.
What about other animals? Wildlife in general seems more curious about llamas than spooked. For their part, llamas don't care much about wildlife. However, they don't think much of bears, and will give out an alarm call if they see one. If the bear is too close, the llamas may bolt. As far as domestic animals, it depends on the animal. For example, it is recommended that you get well off the trail and announce yourself if you meet horses. Many horses will start a rodeo when they see llamas, and it is best to give the riders warning so they can keep their mounts under control. The llamas will want to keep an eye on the horses, but won't spook. As far as dogs, it really depends on the dog. If it insists on nipping at the llamas, there will be problems. If the dog ranges out and leaves the llamas be, there won't be any trouble.