Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty mourn Midge the Llama

Cal Poly Pomona students and faculty are mourning the death of Midge the Llama, who protected the school’s flock of sheep from coyotes. The Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences bought Midge from a private owner in 2014 and she died in her sleep last month at age 20, the university said.
Cal Poly Pomona students and faculty are mourning the death of Midge the Llama, who protected the school’s flock of sheep from coyotes. The Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences bought Midge from a private owner in 2014 and she died in her sleep last month at age 20, the university said. Photo courtesy Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona Facebook page

By City News Service

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Cal Poly Pomona students and faculty are mourning the death of Midge the Llama, who protected the school’s flock of sheep from coyotes. The Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences bought Midge from a private owner in 2014 and she died in her sleep last month at age 20, the university said.
Cal Poly Pomona students and faculty are mourning the death of Midge the Llama, who protected the school’s flock of sheep from coyotes. The Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences bought Midge from a private owner in 2014 and she died in her sleep last month at age 20, the university said. Photo courtesy Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona Facebook page

LOS ANGELES >> Students and faculty at Cal Poly Pomona Thursday expressed an outpouring of grief and sadness at the death of one of the most popular figures on campus — Midge the Llama.

The Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences bought Midge from a private owner in 2014 and she died in her sleep last month at age 20, the university said.

“With snaggly teeth, bulgy eyes and fur often matted with leaves, Midge quickly became a popular figure on campus,” the university said.

Lamas have an average life span of 20 to 25 years and Midge was kept on campus to help protect its stock of sheep from coyotes, as they can put themselves between coyotes and sheep, or chase or kick the predators away, the university said.

Visitors to the university’s Facebook page expressed their grief at the news.

“Midge! I will miss your disapproving stare,” wrote Paul Aggeler.

The Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences said it is accepting donations from anyone interested in helping it purchase a new llama or llamas, and that everyone who donates can propose a name for the new llama.

Until a new llama is purchased, the sheep will be kept in a more secure, fenced area away from places coyotes can get to them, the university said.

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