Coyotes Eyeing the Sheep? Employ a Guard Llama
[MP3]https://server1.vnkienthuc.com/files/3/Media/coyotes_guard_30aug07.mp3[/MP3]
This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.
When Americans think of where coyotes live, they probably think of [A]desert states[/A] in the Southwest like Arizona. But over time, these wild dogs have spread all the way to the East Coast.
Some farmers have guards to [A]protect[/A] their sheep[A] from [/A]coyotes. These guards are llamas. Llamas are South American animals usually raised in the United States for their fiber or for[A] show[/A] or as pets.
But farmers and [A]ranchers[/A] noticed that llamas get along well with [A]sheep[/A]. They also noticed that over time, coyotes were killing fewer sheep. So they chose llamas for guard duty.
Llamas do not need any [A]training[/A]. Farmers usually place only one with a group of sheep. Llamas are social animals. Two llamas[A] together[/A] will not pay attention to the sheep. A lone llama has no choice.
In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, farmer Leo Tammi has several hundred sheep. His dogs help him control and protect the[A] flock[/A] of sheep. But the dogs are not always [A]available[/A]. So he uses llamas.
Whenever anything enters the fields, they know about it. He says their natural[A] interest[/A], and willingness to face almost [A]anything[/A] that comes near, is enough to scare away a shy animal like a coyote.
Their size also helps. Llamas can weigh as much as one hundred thirty-six kilograms. And they look something like a small horse -- a[A] funny[/A] looking horse with a lot of fine, soft fur.
Llamas are not vicious [A]animals[/A]. However, if they are not around people at a very[A] young age[/A], they will not like to be touched. In many ways a llama is just as [A]defenseless[/A] as a sheep. But llamas have a secret weapon. They spit.
When they get angry, they spit out the contents of their stomachs. The result looks and smells terrible.
Llamas really know how to make a statement. In fact, you can find examples of llama sounds on the Internet -- just [A]remember[/A] that llama is spelled with two Ls, L-L-A-M-A. If they sense a threat, they make an alarm sound. This is what a male sounds like:
(SOUND) And this is a female alarm call.
(SOUND)
Llamas are New World camelids along with alpacas, vicunas and [A]guanacos[/A]. Camelids are a family of animals that also include the camels and [A]dromedaries[/A] of Africa and Asia.
And that's the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT. To see a video report about llamas, go to voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.
