Adorable alpaca wandered into an optician's office before it was carried off by police

FoxNews.com/Science ^ | Jan 21, 2019 | Chris Ciaccia | Fox News

[blueplum]

at least once a month - usually when I end up between two of them arguing over a feed pan and get caught in the crossfire. That’s the saliva spit. I’ve only been bombed twice - new alpacas that didn’t understand I’m the alpha around here. When they challenge, they turn broadside to you. If you don’t read it right and get to moving their feet pretty quick like an alpha will do, they’ll turn face-on and launch a bomb. An alpaca that is constantly launching bombs at you for no apparent reason needs to become freezer meat - they are dangerous and will end up attacking, usually from behind (you’ll see this in grown crias who have been babied and petted and coddled and who’s lost all sense of division between human and alpaca).

[mad_as_he$$]

Neighbor next door has about 20 alpacas and a LLama. When he first got them he struggled with the alpha thing and got bruised up pretty badly twice. I grew up with cattle and horses. These alpacas have some knock down fights over who is the king, very interesting behavior for an animal that looks so cuddly and a surprise to me.

[Reily]

spitting images!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

With a French Poodle cut!

Looks like something from a Salvadore Dali picture! I have no doubt it would seriously scare any coyote in the area!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

With a French Poodle cut!

Looks like something from a Salvadore Dali picture! I have no doubt it would seriously scare any coyote in the area!

[DaxtonBrown]

“They’re completely domesticated and respectively serve to produce wool and serve as beasts of burden.”

Are we talking about alpacas, or Republican politicians?

[Rebelbase]

Do you wear a pair of these for eye protection?

[DUMBGRUNT]

I have some alpaca sweaters, the grandchildren like to ‘pet’ the sweaters, very soft.

Is the fur on the animal so soft?
Or only after cleaning and processing?

[blueplum]

suri fleece on the hoof is as soft as baby hair and keeps that softness. The hair shaft, measured in microns for show purposes, has a natural sheen like silk and is hollow like a polar bears - so it can hold heat well but feels cool to the touch (if you can get close enough to touch the critter lol) Huacaya can be made into sweaters, socks and legwarmers because it does have some spring or ‘memory’ but suri has no strand memory, so it is almost always mixed with wool or with a non-stretch fiber that will hold shape. You'll see suri fiber in high-end coats, scarves and skirts with lower quality fleece felted into hats or even hooked rugs.