JUNE 2, 1978 PAGE 7
Curious Llama Visits Grade School
. Kids were in for a surprise llamas to the State Fair in
visit Friday, May 26, when an Salem, and that they had all
eight-month old male llama waited to go until they got back
named Panache came calling at home.
the Warm Springs Grade School.
While the kids were feeling
A bit on the shy side, yet a his thick, rug-like wool coat,
very curious animal, Panache Mrs. Hyder further explained
and his owner Averil Hyder of that llamas don’t cost much to
the Hyder Ranch near Redmond feed. One bale of hay usually
made a guest appearance in lasts for about 10 days and they
each of the classrooms. But like to browse, nibbling on gras
before the cautious llama would ses and even pine trees.
venture in to any of the rooms,
Yet llamas are a fairly
all squeals of delight and other valuable commodity. One llama
noises that might scare him had, is usually worth $500, although
to be hushed.
she has been offered $1,000 for
Once in the classroom, Pan Panache. A pair, however, will
ache really lived up to his name sell for $4,000. And she said she
which means “of elegant man was behind by five orders for
ner, smartly stylish.” A domes pairs.
ticated animal originating from
Not only is the llama itself
South America, Panache — like valuable, but the Hyders do a
all llamas — bears the same lucrative business selling the
“snooty” expression as liis expensive llama wool which is in
closest relative, the camel.
great demand all over the coun
His owner explained some of try. They shear just the male
the unique characteristics of this llamas, and only every other
unusual animal to fascinated year. And the money from the
groups of children that morning. wool is enough to pay for their
Llamas have a face like a feed, according to Hyder.
camel with that same fleshy,
One rather unpleasant char
split upper lip and they can also acteristic of the llama is that,
go for about three days without when provoked, it fires off a
food or water. But they have feet very foul-smelling spit. “But the
like a goat, with two toenails young ones don’t seem to know
instead of hoofs, and they are how to do it yet,” said Hyder,
good climbers.
looking anxiously at Panache.
They have pads on the “Mostly they spit at each other
bottom of their feet prompting if angered or at people who
one student to remark that tease them.”
Panache sounded like someone
Principal Tony Miller was
walking around in bedroom slip pleased with the kinds of ques
pers that have soft, leather tions the kids asked, even the
soles.
really young children. The fol
Also, llamas chew their cud lowing is a sampling of some of
and can be milked like a cow. the questions:
And, surprisingly, Mrs. Hyder
Q. “What kind of a noise do
explained that they are house- they make?”
broken or “potty-trained” and
A. They make kind of a light
will go to the bathroom in only humming sound. Panache made
one place. She" remarked that this noise later in the morning,
she had taken spme of her probably because he was becom-
Kids' Corner
515?* Ilke " "I8'”
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old male llama paid a visit U> the Warm Sorinas
££ £52 a
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Aver “H%^™m Hvto
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to
•■»»•red
good q.«in.
ing a bit antsy, according to his
owner.
Q. “How long do they live?”
A. They live for about 25
years, about the same as a
horse.
Q. “How fast can they run?”
A. They’re pretty fast. They
can outrun dogs.
Q. “Can you ride them?”
A. Yes, if you weigh under
100 pounds. Llamas are used as
beasts of burden in South Ameri
ca, but they’re smart. If the load
is too heavy they just lie down
until the load is lightened.
Q. “How many babies do
they have and how long does it
take for a baby to be born?”
A. They have only one baby
(Hyder has never seen or heard
of a multiple birth) and the
gestation period is eleven
months.
Q. Do they ever try to run
away?”
A. No. They’re very docile
animals and if they are con
tented, they will stay pretty
much in one place.
Q. “What do you do with the
wool?”
A. We sell most of it, and I
(Mrs. Hyder) keep some-which I*
spin and weave. It’s very good
wool and not oily like sheep’s
Sandy Rangila Photo
wool.
Mrs. Hyder noted that Cen
tral Oregon is becoming known
as the llama capitol of the
United States. There is a larger
concentration of llamas here
than anywhere else in the U.S.A.
The Hyder Ranch has 27
head of llamas and they are
expecting another to be born any
minute. Another man in Sisters,
however, has 500 head of llamas.
“I wish we had that many,”
Hyder said wistfully.
One cannot help but wonder
how many kids left school last
Friday pondering the possibility
of a career in the llama busi
ness.
" a M
6^ fyM fM M
MY PET
"by Rosanna Sanders
(Grade5)
My pet is a hamster. It’s a
male named Sparky. When he
bit me the first time it wasn’t
very hard, but the second time
he bit through my skin on my
finger.
He has two very small
dishes in his cage and when he
eats his food he sits in his water.
When he drinks his water, he
sits in his food.
One time I walked up to my
mom and she jumped because:
she thought I had a mouse in my
hand. After she found out it was
my hamster she got mad be
cause I was laughing.
Sparky’s getting big and a
little bit stronger because he
knows how to open the door on;
his cage.
THE FAMILY PUP
by Valerie Maxey
(Grade 5)
Our family only has one pet.
This pup is always getting atten
tion from us. When my little
। brother runs away Rover is
I always beside him urging him to
i come back home. My little
brother always runs away al
most every time he gets a
chance. So Rover is always on
the lookout for a little boy
running across the road or
Ms. Donovan Burkert’s third-fourth graders were proud to present their “Undertree Gallery” to through someone else’s lawn.
other Warm Springs Grade School classes.. Their art work was accumulated throughout the year and Even running down the road
presented as an art “gallery”. The room was full of paintings, spiderwebs, fish (which were «mapended going toward the school or the
from the ceiling), and other displays of talent.
Sandy Rangila Photo store.
So about a few weeks ago ;
Rover got hit by a car. Lucky it :
was only his back leg. His leg I
was sore for a long time. To this I
day he is fine except for one ;
exception, he has a dog sickness.
That sickness is called Dis-
tempera. We all are trying to
help him in every way we can.
We all hope that he gets better. ;
Because he sometimes skips
meals, that’s bad for his health
too. Rover sometimes feels good, :
but then again he’s just feeling;
really bad.