A Devon farmer believes she may have come up with the answer to sheep worrying. They might not look particularly ferocious, but Sue Courtney from Bampton is offering her herd of alpacas for hire as guardians of sheep flocks, especially during the lambing season. She said the normally gentle, friendly animals will become quite defensive if predators are about: "They do look really fluffy and gentle, but if they want to protect things around them they do become quite fierce.
 | | Sue with two of her alpacas |
"They do argue amongst themselves sometimes and that's like a squealing, it's really quite eerie. "If there was something they didn't want in their field coming too close to them, or close to their family, which would be the sheep if they bonded with the sheep, then they would chase them and get them to go away. "If they don't want you to be there they'll run at you and try push you over. They do kick as well - they have a very strong kick if they don't want to be handled. "And you have to keep away from their back legs, otherwise it could be quite painful." Sue has kept alpacas for the last seven years. Initially she had two females and bred from them and now has five. The breed, which is smaller in size but similar to a llama, originated from South America but are now bred in many other countries.
 | | On guard: Sue's alpacas |
They normally communicate by gentle humming sounds, but will spit and kick if they feel threatened. Sue's animals are all pedigrees and are generally kept for their fleeces, which are shorn in the summer. In the meantime she's hoping they'll help keep the wolf from the door in more ways than one. "We really like having them but obviously they cost us something because we have to have them shorn and we have to feed them and look after them. "And we thought if they could earn their keep a bit and they could be useful at the same time it would be a good idea." Anyone interesting in hiring the guard alpacas can call Sue on 01398 331267. | 
