Home for the castoff: Llama sanctuary takes in once trendier pack, guard animals
By PAMELA J. PODGER of the Missoulian
CORVALLIS – Charlene Hakes kisses the nose of one of the 18 llamas at her Safe Haven Llama and Alpaca Sanctuary Inc., a nonprofit for the castoff animals.
Hakes, known around the region as the “llama lady,” is easily spotted as she drives around in her raspberry F150 pickup with the LLAMAGRL plates.
She began taking in llamas in 1996 after several breeding ranches closed in the Bitterroot Valley. More llamas wound up on her property from people who no longer wanted them.
Now she heeds calls from veterinarians, feed stores and others who, for one reason or another, must dispose of their llamas.
Llamas, originally from South America, are a member of the camelid family. They’re used to guard sheep and as pack animals on mountain treks. Other owners breed and show llamas, train them to pull carts, raise llamas for 4-H projects and have them as pets.
Charlene Hakes leads one of her llamas: to a corral at her Safe Haven Llama and Alpaca Sanctuary Inc. near Corvallis recently. Now that the fad for llamas has passed, Hakes cares for abandoned and unwanted animals that didn’t work out as sheep guards or pack animals. Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian
Considered a trendy animal, llamas gained popularity in the 1970s among breeders and environmentalists, who say their padded feet have less impact on terrain than other pack animals.
William Randolph Hearst was an early importer of llamas for his San Simeon castle on the central coast of California. People use the fibers from llamas’ luxurious coats for sweaters, scarves and other items.
In western Montana, llamas earn their keep by guarding flocks of sheep, especially during the spring lambing season.
Missoula District Judge John Larson said his llama, a vigilant gelding named TV, works as a team with the donkey, Augustus, and three Great Pyrenees dogs to safeguard the flock on his ranch south of Lolo.
“The llama will give an alert signal, it’s a clucking sound,” Larson said. “The Pyrenees pick up on the sound and they know something is up. I’ve actually seen them tree a bear that was sneaking down a ditch for lamb dinner.”
Larson said the llamas will go after coyotes with an ungainly gait and head snaking down.
“When they are running, they are fun to watch. It confuses coyotes. The llamas come at them full bore, legs going in different directions,” he said.
When there were more llama fanciers in the area, TV used to wander off the ranch and go visiting.
“Llamas used to be more popular in the past than they are now, and he would frequently go visiting. If you get a wandering llama, you have to go fetch them. I had to a lot when I first got him.”
Larson said TV is bonded to the ewes, and imprints each lamb.
Llamas “are a little like juveniles. They are pretty independent. And you’ve got to establish their trust. But once you do that, it’s good,” Larson said. “They’re very standoffish, and don’t get warm and fuzzy. But he knows who has the corn each morning.”
Missoula District Judge Robert “Dusty” Deschamps said his wife bought their first llama about 10 years ago at a Five Valleys Land Trust fundraiser. Llamas were a novelty then.
“I think it was more of a fad. Right now, they are more kind of giveaway items.”
Their llama, “Tommy Moe,” initially bonded well with the small flock of sheep on Deschamps’ 320-acre ranch on the east side of Mount Jumbo.
But, about four years later, a female llama and her baby mysteriously appeared on Deschamps’ ranch.
“I found out one of my buddies had bought them at an auction. Once he had them, he didn’t know what to do with them and ended up dropping them off at the ranch,” Deschamps said. “The three of them have bonded with themselves and now don’t have a whole heck of a lot to do with the sheep.”
They dubbed the female Dolly Llama and the now-gelded male, Peek-A-Boo.
He said the three llamas do make a distinctive sound, which is like a sharp and loud bird sound. The noise alerts people to coyotes, bears or packs of domestic dogs.
Llamas also are popular for carrying loads as people hike through the mountains.
Steve Rolfing and his wife, Sue, own Great Northern Ranch in Columbia Falls breeds llamas.
Rolfing began llama treks with small groups of people to the Swan Range in 1984.
“I think I’m the longest running llama packer in the Northwest,” he said. “We are the last surviving one” in this region.
Steve Rolfing used to work for the U.S. Forest Service, surveying timber stands for future sales. One day, someone suggested he get a llama to carry his gear.
He now has about a dozen llamas, which carry about 75 to 100 pounds of tents, food and other gear. He said he selects tall, athletic animals to be pack llamas.
“Like horses, not every llama is built for packing,” he said. “I prefer llamas that are narrow chested and built like a thoroughbred racehorse, and not like a stocky Clydesdale.”
He said the llamas are “standoffish” and prefer to be with the herd. Like camels, llamas will spit.
“Generally, if you get spit on, you deserved it. You’ve probably done something wrong,” Rolfing said. “I just wish I could train them to spit on command. I could have fun with that.”
A typical four-day trip, which costs $1,080 per person, attracts families who want to enjoy ridgetop trails in the Flathead National Forest amid wildflowers, summer snowfields and trout fishing.
He said clients include three generations of families, vacationers from the East Coast and Montanans. From his observations, strong families camp together.
“You’re depending on each other and are off your home turf. Everyone is equal, we all get cold together, hot together, sleep on the same ground and get bitten by the same bugs,” he said. “Generally, the type of people who do llama pack trips aren’t whiners and complainers. They are helpful and interested in learning. Often, it is the trip of a lifetime.”
Amy Rubin and her husband, former Missoula City Councilman David Harmon, bred animals and led commercial trips from 1988 to 1998 with their Ecollama Wilderness Llama Treks business in Missoula’s Rattlesnake Valley.
The couple wrote “Llamas on the Trail: A Packer’s Guide.”
She said sheep llamas are protectors who are hypervigilant and high-strung. They get nervous when they’re separated from their sheep. Trekking llamas are more sedate.
She said they sold the last of their llamas last fall, but have some who “visit” for the summer and eat the knapweed.
“It is interesting there is a need for a llama sanctuary,” Rubin said. “People who got them weren’t prepared to become livestock owners.”
Gary Hewitt, a livestock specialist with the Missoula County Extension Office, said llamas were rare and once were regarded as a way to make big bucks.
“It was like the animal that was the answer to everything,” Hewitt said. “They were worth thousands of dollars at one time. There were so few, they were promoted as friendly, agile and easy keepers.”
Hakes, who runs the five-acre sanctuary, said she’s caring for llamas abandoned after the fad subsided or who didn’t work out as sheep guards.
“Sometimes, the llamas were an impulse buy,” she said.
“Not every llama is a guard. For that (job) you want one with an attitude, one that is aloof,” she said. “All the llamas have different purposes.”
Formerly, she said there were several llama ranchers and breeding farms in the Bitterroot Valley.
“Now we only have a few breeding ones left,” Hakes said. “Now they are the throwaway animals that we get for free.”
Her sanctuary became a nonprofit about four years ago. She has started a class for people who want to learn about “felting” the wool, making purses, shawls, bags and other items.
She said the sanctuary has adopted out about a dozen llamas to private homeowners. She charges a $500 adoption fee to cover her medical, transportation, shearing and other care.
Hakes tries to raise money for the sanctuary by shearing llamas and alpacas, selling manure and felted items.
But, she said the sanctuary needs more room. In January, it turned down about 20 llamas because there wasn’t enough space.
On her “wish list” is 40 acres of land, a newer model four-wheel-drive pickup, 10 tons of grass hay, medical supplies and other items.
“Safe Haven needs a place of its own,” she said. “We could do so many things, but it is hard to get grants for llamas and alpacas.”
Reporter Pamela J. Podger can be reached at 523-5241 or at pamela.podger@missoulian.com.
