Andrew Konopik's Adventures

"The beauty you see in me is a reflection of you."

Alpacas are members of the camelid family and originated from South America.

Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984.

Alpacas live to be 15-20 years old. The oldest known alpaca was 28 years old.

Alpacas weigh between 100- 200 pounds and are about 36" high at the withers (where the neck and spine come together).

Alpacas produce 5-10 pounds of fleece per year when sheared.

Alpacas are renowned for producing strong, soft, and warm lightweight fleece. Fleeces come in 16 natural shades, which can also be dyed.

Alpacas eat about 2.5 pounds of grass per day. An acre of grass will support about 6 alpacas depending on the quality of the pasture.

Alpacas are generally safe and pleasant to be around. They have soft pads on their feet, which are easy on the pasture, and they rarely kick.

Alpacas have no incisor teeth on the upper jaw and do not bite.

Alpacas communicate mostly by humming and clucking, except for some sounds specific to breeding or alarm calls. They are a calm, quiet, peaceful, and easy-to-raise form of livestock.

New York, USA Original in the Paleontological TL Institution; Cast provided huth, University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology

In 2000, paleontologists excavated one of the most complete mastodon skeletons ever found. They named the specimen the "Hyde Park Mastodon" after the town in New York, where it was discovered. During six weeks of excavation, researchers-helped by hundreds of volunteers recovered 95% of the mastodon's bones. The skeleton in this display is a cast of the original.