Alpacas are members of the camel family! Besides the familiar humped camels, the camelid family also includes the wild guanaco ("wa-NAH-ko"), the wild vicuna ("vee-KOO-nya") and the domesticated alpaca.

Buttersby is a huacaya alpaca

Alpacas are gentle, intelligent animals.

The main thing alpacas eat is grass or hay.

There are two alpaca breed types: the suri (pronounced "surrey") and the huacaya (pronounced "wah-KI-ah"). Suri fleece hangs down from the body in beautiful pencil locks. Huacaya fleece has waviness or "crimp" which gives them their fluffy teaddy bear-like appearance.

Females are first bred between 14-18 months. The average gestation period is 11 months. Birth weight ranges from about 10 - 17 pounds. Baby alpacas are called "crias" (pronounced "KRE-ah").

As a rule, alpacas need at least a three-sided, open shelter where they can escape inclement weather - as well as at least a 5 foot high fence to keep out predators.

Alpacas are raised for their unbelievably soft fleeces which are then transformed into luxiurious finished goods. Sheared once a year, each animal produces anywhere from 3-10 pounds of raw fleece.

Meander is a suri alpaca

Alpacas do not have hooves - they have two toes, with hard toenails on the top of their feet that must be regularly trimmed and a soft pad on the bottom of their feet.

Alpacas stand about 36" tall at the withers (the point where the neck and spine come together). Females weigh between 100 and 150 pounds, while males weigh roughly 140 - 200 pounds.

Alpaca fiber comes in a great variety of natural colors - 16 distinguishable colors in all. The lighter shades can be readily dyed to give the fiber artist a rainbow of colors from which to select.