Published: August 01, 2008 05:53 pm      

SLIDESHOW: Alpaca Obsession

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Alpacas smell really good. That was the biggest surprise to George and Diane Schena of Lockport, who had gone shopping for some animals for their Tonawanda Creek Road farm.

“I had never seen an alpaca before,” George recalled. “I immediately fell in love. They have a wonderful oder, a strange and kind of sweet smell, earthy and pleasant.”

“We were smitten from the first moment,” he said. “It happens to a lot of people.” That visit resulted in the creation of Alpacas of Niagara, one of three Alpaca farms in the region.

It isn’t just the smell, George said. The alpacas have an otherworldly look about them, starting with their large, wide eyes, and their timid, shy behavior. Even the humming, a noise they make when they’re scared or connecting with their babies, is endearing for its strange alien sound.

Since that first day over ten years ago, the Schena’s herd has grown to 65 alpacas and what started as a logical plan for retirement has become a bit of an obsession.

Native to South America, alpacas are a member of the camel family and are one of the oldest domesticated animals next to dogs. Once exclusive to royalty, the fiber from this animal is one of the most rare materials around.

Many products are made from the fiber, such as scarves, hats, sweaters, socks, yarn, shirts and gloves. These items and more can be purchased at the Niagara Alpaca Shop, open between the months of September and December and located on the Schena’s farm.

“The fiber is very soft,” said Schena. “It’s not scratchy like wool is. It’s also hypoallergenic. I’m not aware of anyone who has had an allergic reaction to it.”

Although this material is very comfortable to wear, it can be a little pricey. But efforts to reduce the price are in the works so that products may be affordable to average people, Schena said.

Aside from the quality of what can be produced from an alpaca, their affordabiity and the ease of raising alpacas further add to their appeal, according to Schena.

“Alpacas are small, easily managed and are very gentle animals,” he said. “People young and old are able to take care of them, and the animals haven’t gone up in price since we started 15 years ago.”

While dairy cows and horses require quite a bit of work and expertise, alpacas are an animal the average person could learn to raise and care for, even if they don’t own a big farm.

“You don’t need a lot of land,” said Schena. “And they are very easy to clean up after.”

While they operate and own Alpacas of Niagara, several local farms work cooperatively with the Schenas in the handling, shearing and feeding of these animals. “We all work together,” said Schena. “We help each other.”

Relatively unknown in the United States just a few short years ago, the popularity of the alpaca is growing. Television commercials and other various forms of advertisement have been created in an effort to encourage individuals and families to look into breeding and owning alpacas. The Schenas offer workshops demonstrating the basic care of alpacas, including handling, birthing and healthcare, and opportunities to buy, breed and board an alpaca on their farm are also available.

The Schena’s encourage visitors to stop by to see their farm where they can check out the Alplacas — and the smell — for themselves.