Llama herd leaves Patterson Ranch

The large pack of llamas, so familiar to all who drive west on the McKenzie Highway, has moved across the mountains.

But two remaining females "may be pregnant and a new herd may be in the offing," according to Linda Patterson who, with Richard, her husband, owns and manages the large ranch just west of Sisters, on Highway 242.

"A young man from Wilsonville, just south of Portland, called us and wanted to take the entire herd," Patterson said.

They're all gone except for the two females.

"One of the nice things about this sale is that they have gone to a wonderful ranch headed by a delightful young man. We're happy about that." she said.

"We know it's going to be a shock to everyone driving by our place not to see the animals. We'll see what develops with the two that are left and who knows what else...

"It is strange, even to us, not to see our llamas as we drive in and out," Patterson said.

The Patterson Ranch has been home to llamas for over 30 years. The Pattersons bought the property in 1968 and put the first animals to pasture there in 1973.

The original animals were purchased by the Pattersons "as sort of a novelty." They did not have any particular training in raising that breed of animal but "all it really took was a lot of horse sense," Patterson said.

"We've probably had over 6,000 llamas over the years," Linda Patterson said. "We've still got plenty of animals, however. In addition to the two pregnant llamas left, we still have the camel and a couple of horses plus other animals.

"The young man who bought our herd really loved the llamas and wanted to know the names of each animal, their pedigree and took a personal interest in them," she said. "We have been over there twice to check on how things were and to see our llamas."

Of the two remaining animals, one is black with a white "collar." The other is white mixed with dark brown.

They will still be out in the open and available for pictures that are taken each year by the hundreds of tourists and locals alike who stop at the llama ranch for a photo or two of the animals with the Three Sisters in the background.