Voa Agriculture Report - Coyotes Eyeing the Sheep? Employ a Guard Llama

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is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. (SOUND) When think of where coyotes live, they probably think of states in the Southwest like Arizona. But over time, wild dogs have spread all the way to the Coast. Some farmers have guards to protect their sheep coyotes. These guards are llamas. Llamas are South American usually raised in the United States for their fiber for show or as pets. But farmers and ranchers that llamas get along well with sheep. They also that over time, coyotes were killing fewer sheep. So chose llamas for guard duty. Llamas do not need training. Farmers usually place only one with a group sheep. Llamas are social animals. Two llamas together will pay attention to the sheep. A lone llama has choice. In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, farmer Leo has several hundred sheep. His dogs help him control protect the flock of sheep. But the dogs are always available. So he uses llamas. Whenever anything enters fields, they know about it. He says their natural , and willingness to face almost anything that comes near, enough to scare away a shy animal like a . Their size also helps. Llamas can weigh as much one hundred thirty-six kilograms. And they look something like small horse ---- a funny looking horse with a of fine, soft fur. Llamas are not vicious animals. , if they are not around people at a very age, they will not like to be touched. In ways a llama is just as defenseless as a . But llamas have a secret weapon. They spit. When get angry, they spit out the contents of their . The result looks and smells terrible. Llamas really know to make a statement. In fact, you can find of llama sounds on the Internet ---- just remember llama is spelled with two Ls, L-L-A-M-A----. If they a threat, they make an alarm sound. This is a male sounds like: (SOUND) And this is a alarm call. (SOUND) Llamas are New World camelids along alpacas, vicunas and guanacos. Camelids are a family of that also include the camels and dromedaries of Africa Asia. And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. see a video report about llamas, go to voaspecialenglishcom.. Steve Ember.

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