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		Llamas do not have hooves. They have leathery pads on the bottom of their feet, much like a dog's. They have two toes and toenails that must be kept trimmed. Because of their small, padded feet, llamas make less of an impact on the environment when hiking in the backcountry than do horses or mules or donkeys. In fact, they make such an insignificant impact that some golf courses are allowing their use as golf caddies! A llama's fiber does not have scales on its surface, nor does it contain lanolin, like sheep's wool. This means llama fiber is not scratchy to the skin nor does it need to be cleaned with harsh chemicals that can cause allergic reactions to sensitive skin. It is hollow in structure and therefore more insulating against heat or cold, making it a wonderful fiber for fabrics close to the skin. Llamas make three basic sounds. The most common is a "hum" that can express contentment, disatisfaction, a question, a greeting ~ depending on its volume, tone, or inflection. A male makes an "orgling" sound while breeding, singing to his "lady love" to induce ovulation. This is a continuous deep, gutteral sound. And there is the "alarm call," which can sound much like a whinny of a horse or a banshee, depending on the llama and the situation. The alarm is sounded when a llama sees something that startles them, and they think it is important enough to report. This could be a coyote or strange dog or wild hog in the pasture; or sometimes it can just be when they see something they that they are not sure about ~ something they have never encountered before, like a rabbit, turtle, or kite in a tree. (About a year ago, I was awakened around 2 am to Prize giving an alarm call much like a banshee. After stumbling out into his pasture with a lantern, I discovered two baby raccoons up the telephone pole next to the fence ~ as frightened as Prize!) Llamas are modified ruminants. They have three stomach chambers and chew a cud. Their digestive system is very efficient and their droppings are small pellets or "llama beans." These have little odor and make a great fertilizer without having to be cured like cow, chicken or sheep manure.