In case you don't know, Alpacas aren't known for their outward reaching bravery. You've heard of the flight or fight response in animals? Well, Alpacas are flight and flight animals. Their goal is to run faster than anyone else in the herd and not get eaten by the Jaguar.
Heck, I've seen mine stare at a wayward plastic bag in wary caution.
Flighty and flaky, that's my boys.
This morning I went out to open the workshop. The alpacas were happily munching in the pasture. I went into the workshop, opened the huge overhead door, and just as I was feeding the broody prisoner I heard that unmistakable scream of hens (still locked up for the morning) who are being terrorized by a predator. I stuck my head out the door and CLIMBING up the hardware cloth of my FtKnox run was a mottle pattern red fox. I reached for my sidearm, dammit, I was headed out to clean the workshop so I didn't put it on. The fox stood stock still for 5 full second, plenty of time for me to send it to hell, but having no means this morning, I simply waved my arms and yelled at it. It immediately dashed 40 ft inside the alpaca pasture.
I don't think it realized where it was, or cared. Honestly, I didn't think he was in danger either. He did have a bit more feisty in him than a plastic grocery bag. He stood there looking at me, when Nova, my 7 year old male saw him. He started slowly walking over, then my 18 month old started the same deal. The fox was watching me not them. Then a barely audible growl and the whole herd turn on the fox. Heads down, and screeching, the chased him out of the pasture. Then OC the goobers started battling each other.
I'm not sure the red devil will be back today, but he'll be back. That's the third distinct one I've seen this week, but all the others are at night. This one was 10am.
Anyway.....turns out they're not useless balls of fluff.
Heck, I've seen mine stare at a wayward plastic bag in wary caution.
Flighty and flaky, that's my boys.
This morning I went out to open the workshop. The alpacas were happily munching in the pasture. I went into the workshop, opened the huge overhead door, and just as I was feeding the broody prisoner I heard that unmistakable scream of hens (still locked up for the morning) who are being terrorized by a predator. I stuck my head out the door and CLIMBING up the hardware cloth of my FtKnox run was a mottle pattern red fox. I reached for my sidearm, dammit, I was headed out to clean the workshop so I didn't put it on. The fox stood stock still for 5 full second, plenty of time for me to send it to hell, but having no means this morning, I simply waved my arms and yelled at it. It immediately dashed 40 ft inside the alpaca pasture.
I don't think it realized where it was, or cared. Honestly, I didn't think he was in danger either. He did have a bit more feisty in him than a plastic grocery bag. He stood there looking at me, when Nova, my 7 year old male saw him. He started slowly walking over, then my 18 month old started the same deal. The fox was watching me not them. Then a barely audible growl and the whole herd turn on the fox. Heads down, and screeching, the chased him out of the pasture. Then OC the goobers started battling each other.
I'm not sure the red devil will be back today, but he'll be back. That's the third distinct one I've seen this week, but all the others are at night. This one was 10am.
Anyway.....turns out they're not useless balls of fluff.
