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maystoneIt'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.
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.
