How to Identify a Pet Llama's Sounds

While llamas are generally quiet animals, they can use a wide variety of hums, growls, clucks and snorts to express their emotions and concerns. By listening carefully to the differences in your pet llama's sounds, you may be able to identify its needs more effectively. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Identify a Pet Llama's Sounds

1. Identify the various types of humming noises a llama makes, which is their most common form of communication. Note that while the humming may sound soothing, it usually indicates at least some degree of alarm or concern. Sometimes humming means the llama is merely curious, however, such as when it meets someone new.
2. Listen to the different types of growls, which usually indicate that a llama is disgusted or unhappy about its current situation. Llamas often growl when the weather is unfavorable, and they are unable to go outside.
3. Recognize the sound called an "orgle," which is a gurgling sound made by males during breeding. Often the sound of one male orgling will attract all the males in the herd and cause them to join in.
4. Note the many alarm calls that a llama uses, usually to warn the others in the herd of impending danger. An alarm is usually a wavering, loud cry, but can be very different between males and females.
5. Know that snorting sounds are usually a prelude to fighting behaviors, especially between two males. A snort can be either playful or a dire warning not to come closer.
6. Identify clucking sounds as a signal from one llama to another not to engage in any aggressive or undesirable behaviors. Often the clucks are mixed in with snorts.
7. Be familiar with the sound of a llama scream, which is its loudest vocalization. It is primarily used while fighting, although it may also be used to indicate pain or distress.
8. Hear all the different sounds your pet llama can make by logging onto "The Humm Page" website (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Since llamas are herd animals, their vocal communications with each other can be very sophisticated. You will learn more about the difference between your llama's sounds, and what they mean, by quietly observing its behavior within the pack, as opposed to its communication with you.
• Humming is almost constant between a young llama, known as a cria, and its mother.