Llamas get loose in east Clark County

Llamas got loose in east Clark County on Thursday afternoon in a strange coincidence with a national media story trending at the same time.

Earlier in the day, helicopters captured aerial footage of two llamas that were being taken to an assisted living facility in Sun City, Ariz., for animal therapy when they escaped.

The llama chase garnered national news coverage, along with Internet jokes.

Locally, the llamas didn’t stray far from their pen. They got loose around 4:15 p.m. on Northeast 172nd Avenue near 29th Street.

Even so, word of the local “#llamadrama” was quickly picked up off police scanners, prompting a flurry of tweets and an enthusiastic social media response.

Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Fred Neiman said the llamas weren’t considered a hazard. A deputy was trying to find the owner and keep the llamas off the roadway.

“We get loose livestock calls every once in a while, especially in the rural areas,” Neiman said.

There are 374 llamas residing in Clark County, according to the United States Census of Agriculture.