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Characteristics & Habits
(Voir cette page en français)
They are herd animals. Alpacas do not do well when they lack the company of other alpacas. While they have been successfully run with sheep or goats, a lone alpaca will show many signs of stress.
Alpacas demonstrate a "striding" gait unique to camelids. Rather than walking with alternating front and back legs, they will lift both legs on the same side when walking forward. (Camels also walk this way, creating a swaying motion that has led to them being called, "The ships of the desert.")
Herds of alpacas will generally stay in close proximity to each other. In fact, an early sign of illness in an alpaca will often be that they have separated themselves from the rest of the herd.
These herds tend to form communal dung piles, a trait that helps the alpaca owner's manure management, and one that helps prevent the spread of parasites.
Males will readily form bachelor herds, and if kept out of sight of females, will co-exist peacefully. However, if females are visible then the males may become quite aggressive towards each other. It is not uncommon to see them wrestle each other to the ground, ram each others chests, or even attempt to castrate each other with their sharp "fighting teeth" (which should be removed as soon as they erupt at age 2-3).
Alpacas tend to be most active in the morning and at dusk (just after it becomes too dark to use the video camera...). It is not uncommon to see play behavior in the late afternoon and early evening, especially with the youngsters. They will chase each other around the pastures at high speed, and will occasionally be found "pronking". The pronk, as it is known, is a springing gait. The legs can hardly be seen to move as the animals spring about the pasture, often chasing each other, and clearly expressing joy.
They have excellent eyesight and will often spot things at long distance that mere humans are unaware of. Often, we see a herd get quite excited at cattle on a hillside a mile away, cats hiding in the tall grass, or at night, raccoons or other animals that we have been totally unable to see or identify. They can spot a strange dog from a significant distance, and the herd will gather together and sound alarm calls.
Alpacas are extremely curious. Youngsters will often approach such novelties as birds in there pasture, obviously trying to figure out exactly what they are seeing.
They have a wide range of vocalizations, the most common being a gentle "hum". They have a distinct, loud and piercing alarm call. They can sometimes be heard clucking their tongues, usually towards their young.
Their herd instinct is strong, and they form clear bonds with their herd mates. When a herd suffers a death, there are often signs of mourning. Likewise, when a former herd mate returns (like a female returning to the farm from breeding) the entire herd will excitedly run out to greet them. The most special is when a new baby cria had just been born, the whole herd goes crazy with joy. This herd bonding is striking, and unlike any other livestock you may encounter.
While often called "huggable", they generally do NOT like human touch, although they will tolerate it when it comes time for normal husbandry tasks.
Source: Gateway Farm Alpacas - Oregon, United States
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