A llama on the lamb? Bangor llama drama ends without incident

While most Maine drivers are used to seeing a variety of wildlife along the side of the road or even on the road, some animals are worth a double look.

I’m sure some people did when they drove down Stillwater Avenue in Bangor this week and caught a glimpse of an escaped llama!

According to retired Bangor police lieutenant Tim Cotton, who wrote about the incident on the Bangor Police Department’s Facebook page, the llama (which was not unlike me when I sneaked out the bathroom window of the Orono dentist’s office when I was 11) may have escaped from its enclosure to avoid tooth decay.

“The backstory is that Rina opened the gate to let in the veterinarian – a specialist in equine dentistry – and then the rowdy llama headed off to parts unknown, possibly Lewiston.”

A passerby spotted the animal on the lamb (can you call it that if it’s a llama?) and called Bangor Police, who then notified Bangor Animal Welfare Officer Trisha Bruen.

“Since Trish has a fantastic memory, she knows where most of Bangor’s llamas live. She quickly called Rina, who confirmed that the escaped llama was probably ‘her Jeffrey.'”

But before she could catch up with the animal, Jeffrey caught the attention of a carrier pigeon and found his way back to the farm.

“Jeff, as he was nicknamed, came back before Trish, probably because of the humidity, but maybe for other reasons; we just don’t know.”

It could also be that he was just lonely. He has friends on the farm. There are pigs, a cat and a goat. If Homeward Bound, Milo and Otis and Pets have taught us anything, it’s that an incredible journey (even if it’s just to avoid the dentist) is better undertaken with a group of friends.

We hope Jeffrey has learned his lesson and that paved roads are not necessarily meant for llamas, but if he manages to elude his owners again, he should definitely have a better plan, perhaps one that involves a little disguise.

Maybe antlers would help you blend in better on your second try, Jeff. Just a thought.