A couple of weekends ago, I decided to spend nearly four hours driving from Los Angeles to the East County San Diego backcountry to visit an "Alpaca Haven in the Hills"—Hazard Alpacas in Jamul, California.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160105lo.jpg)
I'd been wanting to go for what seemed like years, but I never seemed to be available during their once-monthly Open Ranch Days.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160106lo.jpg)
Of course, I knew the Huacaya alpacas would be worth it once I got there...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160108lo.jpg)
...even though I'm not currently in the market to buy one.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160112lo.jpg)
I am, however, happy to throw a couple of bucks in the jar to get some pellets to feed them for an hour or so.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160113lo.jpg)
They're just so dang cute. They're like all my teddy bear dreams of childhood coming to life.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160115lo.jpg)
Who needs a Teddy Ruxpin when you could have an alpaca?
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160121cropLO.jpg)
I was eager to get to know all their personalities—because no two alpacas are ever really the same.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160129lo.jpg)
Some are derpy...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160132lo.jpg)
...and some are curious, while others are standoffish.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160133lo.jpg)
A little shake of a food container can usually get their attention, if they don't respond to my cooing.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160143lo.jpg)
But they can be easily distracted.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160144lo.jpg)
A little patience, however, pays off...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160147cropLO.jpg)
...and then one sticks its snout through the fence...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160149lo.jpg)
...hoping to nibble out of your hand (or, if they had their druthers, straight out of the paper cup).
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160169lo.jpg)
After spending some time with the girls (and getting to scratch a few of their necks)...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160227lo.jpg)
...I headed over to the boys...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160228lo.jpg)
...who were surprisingly more mellow than their female counterparts...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160176lo.jpg)
...which is the opposite of what you'd expect.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160184lo.jpg)
Maybe it's not their mating season (though technically, alpacas can breed anytime).
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160190lo.jpg)
Even when alpacas get a bit feisty, they're still pretty gentle...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160194lo.jpg)
...and relatively mild-mannered.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160198lo.jpg)
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160204lo.jpg)
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160219lo.jpg)
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160207lo.jpg)
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160198lo.jpg)
They smile at you...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160204lo.jpg)
...and even get a bit goofy.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160219lo.jpg)
Some of the boys acknowledged I was there—but they weren't bothered enough by my presence to walk away or really do anything more than glance over their shoulders at me.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160207lo.jpg)
As I was wrapping up my visit, one of the males seemed a bit flirty and gave me one of those "Come hither" looks...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1160210lo.jpg)
...which I then realized was for the last remaining bits of food in my cups.
Thanks to Patti Hazard for the opportunity to visit!
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