Two llamas remained on the lam Thursday, four days after their two handlers were rescued by helicopter from the Weminuche Wilderness northeast of Vallecito Reservoir.

Dawson and Chai should be fine as long as they don’t become injured or fall prey to predators, said Gail Davidson, who owns Dawson.

The llamas accompanied two women on a day hike Friday that turned into a two-night ordeal when the women became lost at more than 11,000 feet in elevation.

Ronda Ramsier and Carol Powell were rescued about 4:30 a.m. Sunday by the U.S. military.

The women set the llamas free rather than tie them up so they could avoid predators and forage for food and water.

Ramsier’s husband, Jack McGroder, said he is planning a mission to try to locate the llamas and bring them to safety. He plans to assemble a team of six people who will spend a day hiking into Cave Basin, three days tracking the llamas, and a day coming out of the mountains.

They were last seen north of the Dead Horse Creek drainage system.

Davidson said the llamas need to be found before the heavy snow falls in the high country.

Llamas can survive on bark, pine needles and certain kinds of vegetation, she said.

“The llamas out there now will have plenty to eat,” she said. “They’re in the middle of a salad bowl.”

Llamas also don’t need much water, and can survive by licking the dew off the morning leaves.

They’re extremely social animals and will stick together, she said.

Dawson is cocoa brown and Chai is black with white under his chin, she said.

Both have been pack animals their whole lives.

If spotted, Davidson asks people to call 799-2940.

shane@durangoherald.com