Alpacas are native to Peru. They thrive in the harsh environment of the high Andes.

They have aquired some very interesting characteristics to help them survive!

Females give birth from from sunrise until early afternoon. Very rarely will they birth after that. They will also postpone birth for bad weather!                                       

Alpacas are social animals. They will not survive the stress of living alone.

Alpacas create a communal dung pile. We've found that our boys are even more particular where they "go" than the girls.

Alpacas do spit, but rarely at people. It's a herd thing they do to keep everyone in line. Well cared for alpacas rarely spit at each other.

Alpacas are very efficient at extracting nutrients from their feed. A pound or two of grass hay a day is all they need to thrive.

Female alpacas ovulate only when exposed to a male.

There are two species of alpaca. The huacaya is the fluffy kind. The suri has a long silky fleece.

Alpacas are relatively small animals. An adult male will weigh 150 to 200 pounds. Females weigh 100 to 180 pounds.

The foot of the alpaca is split in two toes. They are padded like a dog's paw. The tops are covered with toe nails.

They are very gentle to the ground and pasture.

The dung of the alpaca is not "hot like horse or other manures. It can be put right on the garden. It isn't as smelly as any other livestock manure.