The rare Alpaca is a member of the camelid family, first found in recorded history in the high mountain regions of South America. For thousands of years, Alpacas have coexisted with humans. The Andean civilization of the Andes mountains gave the animal a central place in their society, using Alpacas in religious ceremonies and clothing themselves from their fleece.

Alpacas live to be between 15-25 years old. They are smaller than Llamas, standing about 3 feet tall at the withers with a long, graceful neck and thick, woolly fiber all over. They typically weigh 100-175 pounds and give birth once per year to one baby, called a cria. Crias can usually stand and nurse within the first hour after birth and often frolic around the mother's side that soon. Infant mortality is very low with a gestation period of 11 months.

For several thousand years, the Andean people domesticated and selectively bred Alpacas to produce a surprisingly large array of colors and very fine, dense fiber. During this time, Alpaca fiber was virtually a secret from the rest of the world. Garments made from Alpaca fiber were reserved for royalty. peasants caught wearing Alpaca clothing were punished, sometimes even killed.

Alpaca fiber is stronger and several times warmer than wool, with an incredibly soft, supple touch and a wonderful fineness which crafters desire. The fiber is semi-hollow, making it very lightweight while possessing a thermal warmth unlike other natural fibers. Alpacas come in 22 distinct colors so that the fleece can be blended to produce an infinite array of earth tones. It also can be dyed to produce the marvelous bright or soft colors valued by current fashion trends.

In spite of the Alpaca's delicate appearance and gentle disposition, they are hardy animals which adapt to nearly any climate and require very little special care. They are earth friendly animals with clean habits and a wonderful natural curiosity. Alpacas make a variety of sounds such as clicks and snorts but are best known and loved for their humming. They make this humming sound in a variety of situations such as when separated from their herd, when one female gives birth, the other pregnant mothers may hum to the delivering mother and new cria, and when grazing, they hum in different tones.

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