What Noises Do Alpacas Make?
November 11th 2009 21:24
So many people ask me about the weird noises that alpacas make that I thought it justifies another post on the subject.
People are taught animal sounds when they're growing up; cows moo, ducks quack and horses neigh etc. but until fairly recently, outside of South America, most people had never heard of alpacas, let alone heard the sounds they make.
I guess in fifty years or so, some parent or teacher will say, "so what noise does and alpaca make" and a bunch of little kids will do this:
This is the main noise they make. Alpaca people just call it humming, same as you'd hum a tune. Unfortunately, in nearly 13 years I haven't got my alpacas to hum a recognisable tune. Never mind.
I'm not fond of another sound common to alpacas, also to llamas and camels. They do this when you really crap them off.
OK, this next one's letting you know there's a dog, or cat, or some other unwelcome visitor about. I sometimes get this one mixed up with the sound of a bird we have in Tassie, called a native hen which makes a very similar sound. The bird's the same shape as a chicken but it's a wild thing and screams around the place like a road runner (actually they do run all over the roads, so that's probably a good description - I saw at least two squished flat yesterday when I was out on my walk).
Anyway this is the alpaca version:
Last one is the mating call. The alpaca boys do this at the girls and it definitely gets their attention. If they're interested, they'll flop down on the ground and let the male mate. If they're already pregnant, or don't care too much for that particular boy, they'll spray him green with spit.
People are taught animal sounds when they're growing up; cows moo, ducks quack and horses neigh etc. but until fairly recently, outside of South America, most people had never heard of alpacas, let alone heard the sounds they make.
I guess in fifty years or so, some parent or teacher will say, "so what noise does and alpaca make" and a bunch of little kids will do this:
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This is the main noise they make. Alpaca people just call it humming, same as you'd hum a tune. Unfortunately, in nearly 13 years I haven't got my alpacas to hum a recognisable tune. Never mind.
I'm not fond of another sound common to alpacas, also to llamas and camels. They do this when you really crap them off.
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OK, this next one's letting you know there's a dog, or cat, or some other unwelcome visitor about. I sometimes get this one mixed up with the sound of a bird we have in Tassie, called a native hen which makes a very similar sound. The bird's the same shape as a chicken but it's a wild thing and screams around the place like a road runner (actually they do run all over the roads, so that's probably a good description - I saw at least two squished flat yesterday when I was out on my walk).
Anyway this is the alpaca version:
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Last one is the mating call. The alpaca boys do this at the girls and it definitely gets their attention. If they're interested, they'll flop down on the ground and let the male mate. If they're already pregnant, or don't care too much for that particular boy, they'll spray him green with spit.
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