'Like herding cats': Llamas on the loose in Utah were last seen roaming train tracks
A herd of domestic llamas was spotted on the loose, roaming train tracks in Utah, transit officials said.
The llamas escaped from their owner's property and began strolling along the Union Pacific train tracks in Provo, Utah, on Thursday night, Gavin Gustafson, spokesperson for the Utah Transit Authority, told USA TODAY on Friday.
The Union Pacific tracks are near the Utah Transit tracks for its FrontRunner train, but the llamas did not get on the transit authority's tracks or disrupt its service, according to Gustafson.
The last information Gustafson said he received was that the animals' owner was aware of his missing llamas and was working to get them back to his property. This information was provided to the spokesperson around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, he said.
It is unclear how many llamas escaped, and if they have been captured as of Friday.
How hard is it to herd llamas?
Herding Llamas is similar to herding cats, meaning it's "almost impossible," Linda Hayes, former owner of Llama Linda Ranch in Colorado, wrote in an article for Llama Rescue, which helps people who need to catch the creatures.
"They need to go where they think it is their idea," Hayes wrote. "This means they should be handled quietly and slowly so they actually have time to consider their surroundings and decide that where you are trying to get them to go is safe."
Llamas and alpacas are "among the earliest domesticated animals and generally very comfortable around humans," according to the Alpaca Owners Association. Despite this, if they feel threatened or afraid, their initial response is flight, the association said.
"Avoid pushing or panicking them into the flight mode. Slow, calm, confident movements are key to keeping them interested and engaged rather than suspicious and wary," according to the association.
"Many of the llamas and alpacas involved in rescue situations may not be used to being handled or haltered, but there are ways to move them, contain them and transport them without always needing to halter each one. Above all, remain calm and be flexible."