Alaska Llamas & Outdoors Blog

"Do llamas attract bears?" This is a frequently asked question (FAQ), especially during the summer months. In fact the llama's "alarm call" may act as a good deterrent for bears. Llamas are instinctively alert and aware of their surroundings, and usually draw attention to an intruder by making a startling "alarm call" when it senses danger. A llama is usually aware of a bear long before we can see or hear it and will let off their "alarm call" when the unwanted intruder is around. Click on the YouTube link to hear our Raul llama making an alarm call -  Llama Alarm Call   However, I would not recommend leaving llamas tied out unattended while camping. In that situation llamas would not be able to defend themselves from predators such as bears or even an aggressive dog. Even in suburban areas such as Anchorage, there are both brown and black bears. We have used an electric fence for many years that works well to keep the bears and o...

Raul senses a bear and makes a llama "alarm call" in the YouTube video.  What is a Llama Alarm Call? A llama may make an "alarm call" when the llama is feeling threatened or startled by something . It is a loud, high pitched rhythmic sound. Being herd animals, this call is used to alert the others in the herd when one spies a predator. In the wild, llamas travel in herds. When one of them spy a predator they make an alarm call to warn others. That is very comforting when you are hiking or camping in bear country. The llamas will warn you when a bear is around.

Llamas, the Ultimate Backcountry Hiking Partner? Go further, stay longer and hike harder with your 300 pound (llama) hiking partner! Llamas have been raised in South America for centuries as pack animals. The packing ability of llamas combined with their ease of transport enables them to be utilized in a wide variety of situations and makes them ideal for packing. They are popular with hikers and hunters on longer overnight trips because they can carry most or all of the gear. Advantages There are many advantages to using llamas over other types of pack animals. Llamas do not have hooves. They have two-toed padded feet with a toenail which grows over the top of each toe. This makes them very sure-footed. The pads do much less damage to the environment because they do not tear into and dent the ground the way hooves can. For this reason, llamas are often allowed on trails where horses are prohibited Llamas are browsers, not grazers, and can eat various plants while movin...

Here's a lovely winter hike... Why I Like This Hike:   This section of the Historic Iditarod Trail starts from the Eagle River Nature Center (ERNC) and makes for a splendid hike any time of  year especially in the winter after a fresh snowfall. The well-established trail is truly an all-season hike with potential for wildlife viewing and doable for all skill levels. Background : The Historic Iditarod (aka Crow Pass) Trail which spans the Girdwood Valley to Eagle River is considered one of the best trails to hike in the Chugach mountain range because it offers such diversity including glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife. Not only a great hiking/backpacking route, it's also an historic portion of the Iditarod Trail that led from Seward to mines in the Interior. A bit of trivia not known by many is that this trail was rebuilt in the 1970s with girl scout labor. Moose on trail near ERNC How to Get There:   For driving directions to the trailhead at the ERNC go to t...

The  Alaska Department of Fish and Game's (ADFG) June 11, 2018 letter states that ADFG "has no intentions to promote or support limiting the use of South American camelids on public land in the state of Alaska." The ADFG letter is in response to a May 3, 2018 letter by the Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association (on behalf of the North American llama industry) seeking clarification of ADFG's role regarding the recently published "Risk Assessment on the Use of South American Camelids for Back Country Trekking in British Columbia" (RA). This is very good news in light of concerns of disease (most recently M.ovi) potentially being transmitted from domestic animals to wild animal populations. See ADFG Press Release for the latest - Alaska Caribou Death - ADF&G Press Release  Visit  packllamas.org for the most comprehensive information concerning llamas on public lands and a commentary by the North American llama industry. This website was dev...

Llamas near Echo Bend heading home. Answer: Llamas Do Heavy Lifting for Chugach State Park Trail Crews About mid-August this summer, three of our llamas packed in about 150 lbs. of gear to assist Chugach State Park with trail maintenance on the Iditard Trail (AKA Crow Pass Trail). We started from the Eagle River Visitor Center and dropped the gear/equipment about Mile 5.5 around the Icicle Creek area. Equipment hauled by llamas included chain saws, fuel, hand tools, camping gear and food (above) . The gear/equipment was stored and locked in a strong (Knaak) box so that trail crews could access it when needed. Specifically a lower trail just beyond the Perch (Mile 4) is eroding into the river. A new trail has been re-routed above the Perch and will be improved by the trail crew. Crews will also be making trail improvements beyond Icicle Creek. And this answers (partially) another FAQ - What are llamas good for? Answer: They can carry lots of stuff. I like to think of them...