Do Llamas Spit? The Truth

Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting

The most frequent question people ask about llamas is, "Do they spit?"

 

 

The answer is yes, they do. Spitting in some animals is a survival response when threatened by predators or mishandled by humans. They also spit mostly at each other during feeding. Here are some amazing facts that may be help the public to understand more about these exotic creatures.

 

Llamas get a bad rap from people who get spit on by walking up to a guardian llama in a field or attempting to cuddle with one in a petting zoo.

• A Guardian llama is used for alternative herd management in guarding sheep. The noises they make and their ability to spit with dead aim for a distance of 10 to 15 feet can discourage predators whether they be animals or human. This why we never approach a llama in a field. it is his job to guard that area and he is chosen ( usually best is a gelded male) for this job specifically for this purpose. Not all llamas are guard animals. 
•  Llamas are herd animals require another llama, sheep, goat, to occupy the same space with them. Llamas generally do not like to be touched like horses or dogs do. They are usually in a survival mode when approached by strangers in a petting zoo because they are in a corral alone. Most llamas unless trained do not like to be touched. They appear aloof. This is their way of survival instinct. Do not take it personally.
• Domesticated llamas are trained to accept the handling for their care such as toenail clipping, haltering and grooming. Ask before you touch a llama. The handler will instruct you how to best approach him or her.
• Llamas are a 4 legged work of art.
• They make fine eye level companions. What do you do with a llama? Well that is another story for next time....

Starbuck

 

Below is a video of our llamas about spitting from You Tube on our new
You Tube Channel Little Utah Farm.


 

There are many animals in the wild who spit for survival.

• The spitting cobra utilizes muscle contractions to squeeze glands in its mouth to accurately shoot venom at possible predators to protect itself. This process gives an appearance of spitting. The spitting cobra has been known to shoot venom for a distance of more than 6.5 feet.
• The archerfish hovers near the surface of the water, watching for bugs. When it sees one, it spits a stream of water out of its mouth to where the bug is sitting on a plant. Once hit by the water, the bug is likely to fall off and land in the lake for the archerfish to swallow for dinner. The archerfish has mastered the angle at which it must shoot water to knock down a bug.
• The male scorpion flyuses spit during its mating ritual to attract a female mate. The sticky saliva is spit onto leaves for the females to devour as a distraction during mating. This distraction helps the male to survive after the mating has completed.
• Spittle bugs wrap their bodies in a foamy spit to keep from drying out when they are young. The foam also insulates them from heat and cold. These spit-covered youth, known as nymphs, can be found along the stems of small plants.
• The mighty walrus spits a forceful gush of water at the mud on the bottom of the sea or ocean floor to uncover clams from hiding. This trick is useful for the walrus, which has limited eyesight. Walruses are also known to spit out water when playing around.
  
  Read more: What Animals Spit? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8444945_animals-spit.html#ixzz2AKVVD8vR

 

Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm

Luna Llena our baby llama is almost 4 weeks old

She plays happily with the herd and there is a co-operative community emerging as a result of her presence

Hope you all have a great day !
Deborah MOON

 

 

Autumn Bliss

The Rolling Hills Off Lund Hwy

How does it get any better than this? Our dream of living off the land continues to come true as we go out to cut our own wood in the wild for our stove.

Team work.

We made an efficient family team as we cut, sorted and stacked the wood in the truck.

Me Tossing The Wood Into The Truck

My Grandson is a great help. A  job well done.

This is the land where the antelope play and wild horses run.

The graded road to Lund is long and the perspective is amazing. Out here is where the cowboys still ride their horses into the sunset after a long days on the range. For miles as far as the eyes can see is the land as it was in the 1800's pure wild and free.

"I looked around me and felt the ranges, the land, and the sky embrace us and I knew then I was truly close to the earth and living the life I/we have dreamed off."

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freshly picked Oak Leaves

 I gathered the last of the Oak leaves while on a hike in the gullies and canyons of The Three Peaks. It seems like yesterday that the Oaks leaves were bursting out of the bare winter branches. I have lot's of ideas for these beauties. I will use 2 methods of preserving. One will be to soak in a solution of glycerin and water and the other I will iron between waxed paper. I have an online store that displays these creative projects on T-shirts, mugs, and greeting cards. I hope you all visit often to see what I have made. I have oodles of ideas, landscapes, flora and fauna and art to fill my store as time goes by.

End of Autumn Chores

I looked outside my kitchen door and heard the roar of our tractor plowing and tilling the land. After such a grand harvest of corn we move into the rhythm of the earth and prepare for the winter and an easy spring planting.

Our Fur and Feather Family Play

What a blessing that we all get along and respect each other's process and space. Our dogs and chickens commune beautifully together. They sing and play and run together in the yards. I will take my hens for a walk in the front gardens today before the snow comes later tonight. I will make a trail of bread to the gates and toss the rest into the grass. They will love scratchin' and digging in the dirt and clay.

Autumn Bliss: A walk in the high country promises exquisite color
and crisp cool weather. The meadows and trees are a delight as we walk on the trails.

Soon we will be riding our ATV's with our new club called the Trail Blazers and receiving visitors for the the holiday season. Life is so good. How does it get any better than this? Autumn Bliss !