Alpaca Facts

Alpacas are cousins to llamas. They are native to South America and were first imported to the United States in 1984. There are two types of alpacas - the Huacaya (wa-Ki-ah) is fluffy and the Suri is silky with pencil locks. About 90% of the North American alpacas are Huacaya and the other 10% are Suri.

Adult alpacas are about 36 inches tall at the withers and weigh between 149 and 200 pounds. They are kind to the earth, as they have two toe-nails and soft pads instead of hooves.

Alpacas are herd animals that seek the companionship of other alpacas. They communicate by soft humming.

Alpacas are shorn once a year. The fleece which is naturally hypoallergenic is so soft and luxurious, it is frequently compared to cashmere. Many owners have the annual fleece spun into yarn and made into knitted or woven products. The colors of alpaca fiber range through shades of black, gray, brown, fawn, to pure white.

The gestation period for an alpaca is about 11 months. A baby alpaca is called a cria and usually weighs 13 to 18 pounds. Crias nurse for six to eight months. Alpacas will spit at each other over food or a disagreement with another alpaca, but they rarely spit at people.