Why Do Alpacas Spit?
Spitting is a popular topic when it comes to alpacas. During the month of March we will feature a new post on Spitting each Saturday. Hope you enjoy Spittin’ Saturdays.
One of the first questions people ask about alpacas is “Do they spit?”
Yes, they can spit. Some alpacas are bigger spitters than others. Some have more attitude than others. Most of the time alpacas are sweet and curious - though most of them like to enjoy humans at arm’s length rather than snuggle with them.
Occasionally when humans or other alpacas get a little too close for comfort, alpacas spit. Spitting is their way of saying, “NO, I don’t like that. Stop what you are doing!” They can’t talk, so this is their, ahem, nonverbal way to voice their displeasure over something. Alpacas are totally defenseless. All they’ve got is their spit.
In my experience spitting usually occurs when the girls are arguing over food (remember they are usually pregnant), or when the boys are arguing over the girls. I am most often spit on when I happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, i.e. walking through a group of them during a barnyard squabble. Alpacas are passive, not mean-spirited beasts. But when they are mad, their spit is their only weapon.
There are different degrees of spitting. On one end of the spectrum is a mild *phew*. This one is mostly air and is used to signal irritation. Almost like a sneeze. On the other end of the spectrum is the very angry spit. This one involves green nasty stuff from the depths of the alpaca’s rumen. It is usually reserved for a fierce disagreement with a herdmate or the veterinarian. And it does smell. Bad.
But alpaca spit is not really that big of a deal for those of us who are addicted to love them. Spit can usually be avoided by understanding the alpaca’s nature and using mild handling techniques.
Next Spittin’ Saturday – Spitting from the Alpaca’s Perspective or “10 Reasons Spit Happens!!!“
More Spittin’ Saturdays:
March 7th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I can’t believe I just read an entire blog post about alpaca’s spitting! Actually, it was very informative. Alpacas are certainly a distinct animal. I learned while touring an alpaca farm at St Mary of the Woods that their hooves don’t destroy the turf and they don’t eat down to the root of the grass. I hope my memory servers me right.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Thanks for explaining the spitting thing Katy. I thought the alpacas did it ALL the time, and that it must be especially vile every time. (Why else would people be constantly mentioning spitting when talking about alpacas and not their cute faces?)
TStones last blog post..Lovely Cable Knit
March 8th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Katy- do yours do what mine do.. walk around mouth-breathing because they’ve just grossed themselves out by what they spit? It’s like, “man, that was awful, and it tastes bad…huff, huff.” They look more miserable than the victim, who has a green gob of spit on the back of his head, like paintball!
March 9th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Yes, it’s so funny. And people think there’s something really wrong. I just tell them they just got through spitting. It cracks me up.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Alpaca? Alpaca? Are you kidding?
Dan Mihaliaks last blog post..How Are Paintballs Made
June 20th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Thumbs up for Spittin’ Saturdays.
Informative post. “All they’ve got is their spit,” as you say — no words or hand signals.
I’ve never been spit on by an alpaca in Peru, but I have been on the receiving end of llamas’ spit (yuck!) and that of one very angry vicuna in Arequipa. He was in a pen all by himself in a zoological park and he had decided that he hated all human beings. Poor guy.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I’ve never been spit on by my alpacas either, except one mild *phew* from a protective dam when I was handling her cria. I have also found that when I see an alpaca showing signs of wanting to spit in my direction, I hold my hand up like a stop sign, and they always back down.
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