The "Alpaca Exploration" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My wife and I had read in our local newspaper about a nearby Mount Joy Township farm having an open house over the weekend which we thought we might enjoy visiting.  The headline of the article in the newspaper read "WILD AND WOOLY" with a couple of photographs in the article showing a few Alpacas interacting with a few people.  Hopped in the car and headed to Mt. Joy which is a few miles to the west of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  When we arrived we were greeted by a long line of cars waiting to enter their parking lot.  I wound my way along the driveway and before long someone was directing me into a parking space.  Immediately we were able to see the fenced-in area that was home to close to a hundred of alpacas.  Neatest animals that hold their head high as if to tell us they are the main attraction at this farm.  

A few walked over to greet us along the fence and allowed us to touch them.  The alpaca is a member of the camelid family as are llamas.  The alpaca has a dense fluffy fleece which reminds you of cashmere or mohair.  The alpaca originated from South America, high in the Andes Mountains of Chile, Peru and Bolivia.  Alpacas have herding instincts and need to have another alpaca as a companion.  

Mother nursing her baby

That was easy to see when one alpaca walked in our direction, another one followed along.  We saw quite a few young alpacas roaming around with what we assumed were their mothers.  A female will carry her baby 11-12 months and will give birth to a baby "cria."  We questioned a worker who told us that two babies were born earlier in the day and were walking around with their moms as we watched.  The alpaca stands about three feet tall at their shoulder and weigh about 135-150 pounds when full-grown.

This alpaca came over to see what I may have in my hand

Their neck adds another three feet to their height.  They live to be about 20 years old.  The alpacas wandered around the many fenced in areas with many of them followed by young ones.  One guide pointed out the one baby one that had been born earlier in the day and was following its mom around.  

A handsome fellow

The animal comes in 22 natural colors and is sheared once a year in the spring which keeps them cool throughout the summer.  I asked how much it costs to buy an alpaca and never got an answer.  I assume they aren't cheap.  They are a beautiful animal who holds their head high in a majestic style to tell you they are handsome or pretty.  

Coming over to me to find out what I may have for him.

Before we left the property we made a visit to the store that sold all sorts of items made from the alpaca fiber that at one time was on the bodies of the alpacas roaming in the fields next to the  store.  Fun day on the alpaca farm.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

A variety of alpacas feeding.