Berserk llama syndrome, known by a number of other names, including berserk male syndrome, is a behavioral problem found in male llamas that have been hand-raised or bottle-fed, allowing the llama to become more socialized with humans instead of other llamas. The affected llamas will be violently aggressive, charging or biting humans.

The syndrome typically manifests around puberty but can happen at any age. In some rare occasions, wild llamas have been known to develop it, as have females.

Berserk males tend not to be castrated, which means they have more testosterone. Any llama that shows signs of being berserk should be castrated. Once an animal turns, vets recommend owners have it euthanized unless they have a facility equipped for research and can safely contain the animal.

The best way to prevent llamas from going berserk:

•Never bottle-feed males, or don’t let them know you’re bottle-feeding them by huddling the llama herd around the baby during feed times.

•Don’t over-socialize male llamas by coddling or keeping them away from the other animals and with humans.

•Have them castrated at 1 1/2 to 2 years of age.

Source: Dr. Rachel Eaton, mobile veterinarian; Llama Web