Alpaca Face Mask for This

Real talk, I’ve been wanting to pet an alpaca for the last six months. I even considered taking an impromptu trip to Peru so I could feel one of those fuzzy creatures that I think of as the Giraffe of the Americas. With everything going on in life and in the midst of an international pandemic, this trip didn’t get to happen. But the good news is I learned that there is an alpaca farm just an hour away from me in Pennsylvania!

I had seen alpaca farms in New Jersey while driving around so I knew the climate must be adequate for alpacas to be raised on the east coast, but I didn’t know there would be a farm so close to me. I discovered Deerwood Alpacas and quickly arranged for a visit on my day off from work. When I arrived, the owners greeted my group with a smile and an umbrella as rain started to drizzle down. We exchanged names and a little bit about ourselves and it immediately felt like we were making new friends and not there for any kind of transaction.

This farm was different than most that I’ve been to before. It was quite small, in the backyard of the owner’s yard, but the thoughtfully designed alpaca pen gave lots of room for the animals and was very clean and well kept. The owners, an older jovial couple, directed us to the barn because the alpacas go inside to avoid any inclement weather. Both my group and the owners were wearing masks per request of the owners and for the general health and safety of all the people and alpacas.

As soon as I entered the barn, my smize (smiling with your eyes) was undeniable. It has been a little hard during the pandemic to read people’s expressions without being able to see their full face, but in this situation the excitement and happiness of everyone was clear. Beyond the evident smizing, the tone of voice of the owners and my group had a sense of camaraderie as the alpacas brought us together.

A couple of the older alpacas nuzzled up to me and the others in my group because they had been socialized to people and enjoyed being pet. Their fur, despite being sheared the month before, was softer than a pair of fuzzy socks right out of the package. Unlike fuzzy socks, the alpacas were absolutely adorable and liked to take selfies. While I was in a trance petting the alpacas, the owners explained the life of an alpaca and how they generally lived to be between 15-20. I also learned that they were pretty clean animals and went to the bathroom outside the barn in specific spots, like a cat using the litter box.

While the alpacas were all kept in the same barn, there were areas designated for certain alpacas to best aid their development. The older alpacas were kept together, the younger males were kept together, and the females were kept together to better control mating, but always making sure the alpacas had friends around. After seeing some of the younger male alpacas play, I’m pretty sure the older, alpha male alpaca was perfectly fine with being able to be a little distanced from the ruckus. Inside the barn, we went into the area with the younger alpacas and met Apollo who was celebrating his first birthday on the day we visited. Impromptu surprise birthday party!

The owners helped guide Apollo outside, the rain had stopped, and then handed off the leash so we could feel what it is like to handle an alpaca. The owners have worked closely with their animals to make them comfortable around people and take their alpacas to grange fairs as well as community programs like nursing homes to brighten people’s days. Visiting with an alpaca is a total mood booster for anyone, so I completely understand the therapeutic element there. After a quick photo shoot encouraged by the kind owners, and learning some more about the South American native animals, we went to the open alpaca pen.

The rain had stopped and some of the older alpacas had ventured back outside. We were feeding them some pellet “candy” when the older, alpha male gray alpaca started making a sound that resembled a creaky door. When I heard it, my mouth dropped a little in disbelief (of course with the mask no one could see it!) because I had never thought of alpacas making a sound like that. The owners assured us that the alpacas keep an eye out for any intruders because they are a prey animal and that sound is their alert to say that something is near. The most recent threat was a chicken far off in the distance that seemed to be disturbing their peace. However, they also feel threatened by foxes and even the occasional bear that comes around. They don’t seem to mind the deer that wander around the yard from time to time.

After spending over an hour with the alpacas, we headed to the small shop inside where the owners had a variety of products. They showed us yarn made from their alpacas which matched their colorings, and the difference between sheep’s wool and alpaca fleece. The alpaca fleece was much softer (not like an itchy wool sweater), and alpaca is four times warmer than sheep’s wool making it a great compact substitute for winter gear. The owners told us about their desire for the alpaca industry to flourish in the United States because they see such great potential. They clearly see alpaca fleece as a superior alternative to other warming fibers and love the animals. I did question them about the possibility of factory farm creation with alpacas if the industry got bigger. They told me that currently most of the alpaca farm operations in the U.S. are smaller farms and they hope that as the industry grows, the desire for the proper treatment of alpacas does not diminish. They are hopeful about the future of alpacas in this country.

After learning all about alpacas and the stellar product they create, I couldn’t resist buying a hat to keep me warm in the winter. Despite being over eighty degrees that day, I still wore my hat a little when I was home because quite frankly the farm got me excited about winter (and I’m a summer girl so that’s saying something). At Deerwood Alpacas, the passion is evident and the kindness is real. Both the alpacas and the owners made me want to visit and smize with them again.

How I learned to be a more Lovable Traveler from Deerwood Alpacas:

1. Learning how to adapt to changing situations to make everyone more comfortable. For example, wearing masks per the suggestions of the state and the farm. My group was comfortable with this in the first place but after talking to the owners, it was clear that not everyone shared our sentiments. It is important to consider following precautions the host suggests to make them more comfortable and create a more pleasurable experience for everyone.

2. Supporting local can come in many forms. At this farm, the owners want to promote the alpaca industry in the United States because they are passionate about the animals and the product they produce. For this farm, supporting them is not just spending money (although I am super pumped about my alpaca hat) but about learning more about alpacas and understand its potential and value as an industry.

3. Thinking outside of more typical online shopping for gifts. I’m a big Amazon shopper but have lately been trying to find more companies (like this farm) to purchase gifts from to make an impact that creates bigger economic ripples.

4. Petting alpacas is an instant mood booster which can make you a more lovable traveler. 11/10 would recommend.