Runaway Llamas:
The adventures of Lluka, Llewis, and Todd 

They say that not all who wander are lost, but this was  certainly not the case for Lluka, Llewis, and Todd.  Here is the story of how these three not only wandered, but also got themselves lost among the Blue Mountains. Now grab a tea and prepare yourself for the tale of the runaway llamas - the adventure that took the community by storm and sent the media into a craze.

How it all began

On a chilly Friday morning, November 10th, 2023, I headed to the farm to let my beloved llamas, Lluka, Llewis, and Todd, out into their pasture for the day. I made sure they had plenty of hay and water and walked the pasture to ensure there wasn't anything harmful for them to eat. I especially wanted to avoid them munching on any apple cores, which could be bad for them. I spent a good 30 minutes with my boys before leaving for work, and as I walked away, I saw Lluka looking at me. I remember thinking, “I love this llama so much; I am so grateful for them.”

real life llama drama

The great escape

While at work, I received a frantic call that my llamas were out of their pasture and on the run—my worst nightmare. It took me two agonizing hours to find a replacement for my shift and rush back to the farm, only to find that the llamas had vanished. I was devastated and heartbroken, fearing I might never see my babies again. It turned out that someone had carelessly left the pasture door open, and the curious llamas had wandered out and then got scared.

The search begins

I immediately took to social media, posting in four local Facebook groups about my missing llamas. That same afternoon, drones, a helicopter, and many people were searching for them. By 5 PM, as it was getting dark, there was still no sight of my boys. Local farmers warned me about the strong coyote presence, and I was worried, especially for Lluka and Todd, who had always lived a pampered life. Llewis, on the other hand, had spent most of his life roaming 1200 acres on a ranch in Alberta. I prayed they were all together, as that was their best chance to survive.

For the next two days, I drove through fields and pastures, screaming "Lluka" with tears streaming down my face. I was heartbroken and barely eating or sleeping, getting up at sunrise to search and staying out until sundown. The support from the incredible community was overwhelming. People advised me to make flyers and put them in every mailbox within a 5-kilometre radius, and to put up pink posters at every major intersection. I plastered "MISSING LLAMAS" everywhere!

The community steps in

This community is truly amazing. Many people volunteered their time to help find my boys. Three individuals stood out: Annette, with 20+ years of search and rescue experience, took control of coordinating the volunteers. Nancy, a pet finder, and Don, a wild game tracker, also offered their expertise. With their help and the support of the community, we were able to spot the llamas on Monday, November 14th. They were chilling in the abandoned pastures up in the Loree Forest, looking at me as if to say, “What, Mom? We’re just chilling.”

The llama's adventure

Since Llewis had only known me for three weeks before their adventure, his survival instincts kicked in, and the other two followed him. We tried to catch them several times but failed. That’s when I was introduced to Jamie and Jeremy, two cowboys. Jamie quickly realized that catching llamas would be more challenging than cattle, but they were up for the task.

We lost the llamas several times over the next few days, relying on public tips to locate them. Each time we got close to haltering Lluka or Todd, Llewis would make a grunting sound and start moving, and the other two would quietly follow. On the morning of Thursday, November 16th, Don finally located them at a farm on Grey Road 2, trying to cross the busy road. The cowboys quickly built a funnel coral and managed to get Todd and Lluka into the trailer, but Llewis escaped.

The final push

Several full days went by without any concrete sighting of Llewis. I feared the worst, especially since he was now alone. Drone operators, including one with heat detectors, found no results. A few leads came in, but there were no real sightings. I played recordings of Todd and Lluka at the llamas' home, hoping Llewis would follow the sounds.

On the evening of Sunday, November 22nd, I received a call from the OPP. My heart sank, fearing the worst. However, the officer informed me that someone had followed Llewis into a fenced orchard. I asked if we could lock Llewis in for the night, as it was too dark and late to catch him alone. Early the next morning, with the help of Annette, Don, the cowboys, and a few volunteers, we managed to get Llewis into the trailer and back to the farm by 8:30 AM. I was relieved that the adventure was finally over.

A grateful heart

I am incredibly grateful for everyone who helped me during this ordeal. The community's support was overwhelming, especially since I barely knew anyone before this happened. Thanks to their kindness and dedication, Lluka, Llewis, and Todd are safely back home..