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Do alpacas spit?

Andrea Stevens-Moore • Nov 29, 2021

Do alpacas spit? The question we get asked the most!

Every single day, here on the farm, we get asked the same question...... Do alpacas spit? Do llamas spit? Will they spit at me? The short answer is yes, alpacas do spit and so do llamas. But it's not as clear cut as that. Just because they can doesn't mean to say they will. In all my years as an alpaca farmer I've only once had the displeasure of having a face full of alpaca spit and that was totally my own fault. So let me explain why they spit and when they spit, and I'll come back to how I got spat on later.


All animals have their ways of communicating. A dog may bark, growl, wag their tail and so on. A cat may miaow, scent mark or scratch if something upsets them. Alpacas are generally peaceful animals, as they live in herds and enjoy a mostly quiet life. But there's one major thing they do get upset about and that's when another alpaca attempts to steal their food! This is when you see 'alpaca communication'.


Alpacas have three stomachs, so to speak, therefore a major part of their day is eating - grass, hay, alpaca pellets - they love all three and spend most of their days munching away. It's all very serene and quiet until another alpaca decides they want to eat another alpacas share of food. That's when you'll see a distinct change in body language! The ears go back and the lips slacken. There may be a little noise, similar to an 'eeeeek'. This is basically the warning sign to the other alpaca that they really shouldn't continue to try and steal the food. Most alpacas are smart and will take the hint and back off. Crisis averted! But just like people, there will be those ones that just don't listen!


The warning has been given and not acknowledged.... This is like a declaration of war to an alpaca and you'll see the ears go further back, the jaw slacken fully  and the agitation becomes very clear! This is the last chance for the offending pillager to move away. If they don't they're heading for a face full of very smelly green regurgitated grass! There's certainly been ample warning, so why not? No one likes a food stealer! 


So as humans,  if we don't take their food, we don't get spat on then - right? Well yes, but no! It's not always possible for the unsuspecting human to notice this little and quite subtle act of 'war'. So if you don't move in time, it's a possibility you can be caught in the crossfire. Again after many years of keeping alpacas, I've not yet been unable to move in time and in fairness, it doesn't happen often. Alpacas are respectful of each other on the whole and most humans can see when an alpaca is getting agitated. So it's highly unlikely you'll get caught in any crossfire.


Going back to what I said earlier though..... I did once received a nasty smell to the face! This wasn't because I was caught in the middle of a fight over food, it's because I was caught in the middle of the other reason alpacas spit.....


If you've been on an alpaca experience at our farm, you'll know that females have a very unique way of telling us they're pregnant....


Yep, I'm sure you've guessed it....when a female alpaca is pregnant, she tells the male his 'advances' are pointless, by delivering a wonderfully large spit in his direction! As this communication between alpacas is extremely clear, the male will take his rejection on the nose (excuse the pun!) and move away!


So now I can come back to the only time I got spat on..... Someone has to walk that boy into the field to 'wine and dine' the female. Yep, I was that person and yes I didn't move in time! The smell really is pretty horrible, but when it gets stuck in the screw holes of your glasses and you can still smell it hours later.... well I'll leave that to your imagination!


But don't think an alpaca (or a llama!) spits and feels all triumphant! Far from it. When they spit they're highly agitated and what's known as 'sour mouth' kicks in. The taste of the regurgitated grass and their stomach bile sits understandably quite nastily in their mouths. The jaw stays slack and the green just keeps on dribbling!!! This is why most alpacas and llamas will avoid spitting and it really only comes as a very last resort.


So back to the question... do alpacas spit? Yes they do, but you as a human are highly unlikely to become a target unless you make our fluffy friends extremely agitated, which of course you wouldn't! But don't forget to keep your wits around those pregnant females or a couple of males scuffling over a tasty morsel! That's when spit happens!


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