About that gun . . .

[maystone]

It's 1:40 AM and we're just starting to calm down. About a half hour ago Dar woke us up because she thought something was attacking the alpacas. She heard Gertie screaming. I think I stopped breathing as I rushed around throwing on a coat and wrangling the snow pants over my pajama bottoms. Oliver and Mark were still dressed so they were out the door before Dar or me; they found the alpacas all huddled together in the middle of the paddock - they were OK but scared. They calmed down once we were there, though. The guys checked out the inner paddock while I took my flashlight and checked the perimeter. I found some fresh fox tracks that went right up to the post on the farthest paddock, and I saw more of those (hopefully) dog tracks running along the edge and then down into our yard.

Dar had lured the alpacas into the barn with food (very easy to do given our guys' gluttony), and we locked them in for the night. I don't think anything was trying to get them, but the alpacas freak at the sign or scent of any predator, because - let's face it - alpacas are prey, pure and simple. Happy Meals on hooves, to steal from Joss Whedon. Locking them in is more to give everyone peace of mind than anything else.

Still it's worrisome. We found tracks all over the place, and we think that while most of them are from the dogs next door, at least one of them was a coyote. We don't have to worry about the coyote too much right now, but once our alpacas start having their crias, that'll be a different story. So we have some thinking to do on how to protect them.

Now I think I'll have a drink and try to get some sleep.

Comments

[gatezilla.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh! That's scary stuff. Poor alpacas! And poor alpaca-caretakers!

I'm having visions of you sitting out by the barn with a shotgun across your knees. :D

[maystone.livejournal.com]

You're not that far off :) A part of me wishes that I could sleep out in the barn with them, and if the barn were bigger, I'd probably be out there. Because I'm that neurotic, apparently.

And speaking of sleep, shouldn't that be what you should be doing, missy? Night-night, Gatechen.

[budclare.livejournal.com]

EEK!

[maystone.livejournal.com]

You said it! Scared the crap out of us until we could see for ourselves that they were all right.

[sffan.livejournal.com]

Eeek!

*hugs*

Do the other alpaca ladies have any advice? or are their properties all in such cleared areas that there are no predators around?

[maystone.livejournal.com]

Hannibal says thank you :)

The other ladies don't have a lot of woods around them, so they don't have predator traffic that we do. Happily for them. It looks like we're just going to lock ours up every night now.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Thank God for Gertie and thank God they're all ok. (and you guys!)

[maystone.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, Gertie is the herd matriarch and nothing gets past her notice. Not that they can do anything to protect themselves, poor things. It's why we got so freaked - they have absolutely no defences against a determined predator.

[caerwynx.livejournal.com]

Yikes! You *are* a cowboy! Runnin' out to protect the herd.

Look, I'm on drugs and bran muffins.

But I heart you and your posse and your herd and I'm a-thinkin' 'bout ch'all.

[maystone.livejournal.com]

I heart you too, my friend.

Drugs and bran muffins are a winning combo in my book! I'm glad that you've seen the light about taking the drugs. (Actually you're probably seeing a tons of light because of them. Heh.) It will help calm the nerve and relax you so your body can relax and promote the healing. Plus, you know, it's fun!

It sounds as if you're a bit better, and for that I'm very thankful. Take care of you, Pamster.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

I haven't posted about it, but as I was driving through the yard two nights ago I saw what I believe to be a wolf. It was entirely too large to be a coyote, unless he was on steroids. We live against acres and acres of woods, so it is possible. I'm worried about our cat, but strangely not too worried about myself. I think its because he's more "meal sized."

Hopefully, the alpacas would fight if a coyote were to attack. I know they are known to kick up a storm when needed.

[maystone.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Wolves are back, and that's a fact. Yeah, I'd worry about the cat, too. Can you keep him in at night? I remember that when I was in Acton there were numerous reports of cats being lost to coyotes which are all over the place. There was a coyote who used to come around the dumpster where I worked off of Rt. 2 and that was several years ago. They must be well settled in by now.

I don't think the wolf would go after you, but your little guy would be just the kind of meal it'd be looking for. Keep him close.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

He sleeps inside at night but he is outdoors after dark. The alternative is a screaming unhappy cat so we have to take the risk. I agree that the wolf wouldn't be much interested in me.