Llamas loose on local lawn
By Kyra Hoggan
It’s not uncommon, in the Koots, to find wildlife in one’s backyard – but imagine waking up one morning to find two llamas lounging on your lawn.
Fruitvale’s Darcy Samulak doesn’t have to imagine anything – except maybe how to feed his furry new friends, and how to find their owners. “When we got up this morning, there they were – one was sitting down, and the other was just kind of wandering around,” he said. “My son and his girlfriend (both of whom are visiting from Boston) went out and caught them.” Samulak, himself a horseman, has created a makeshift pen for the creatures, and has been diligently, but so far fruitlessly, searching for the owners. “It’s pretty funny – I’m not even sure if they’re llamas or alpacas,” he said, adding they’re bigger than sheep, but smaller than horses. “I don’t know what to do with them.” He said he has contacted the RCMP, the SPCA, local radio stations, feed stores – even put the story out on Facebook –all to no avail. “I’ve asked everyone who’s an animal person in the valley, and no one’s heard of them,” he said. “I’m really surprised – someone has to be looking for them.” And that isn’t even the weirdest part of the story. “My daughter found two llamas last year, on the complete other side of the valley,” he said. “What are the odds of that? It’s like being struck by lightning twice.” He speculated that perhaps the owners are on holiday and haven’t yet discovered that livestock is missing, and promised to take good care of the exotic creatures until their people come to claim them. “It’s becoming a family tradition. The Llama Whisperers – what do you think?” If you know the owners of the llamas, feel free to contact The Source at 250-365-5972.
