Last year three Alpacas moved in with the Bulman family in Duxbury. They arrived at the Bulman’s around Mother’s Day and are adjusting well, according to the family.

The Alpacas have been noticed around town because they’re not the typical Duxbury Yellow Lab. Maura Bulman has loved Alpacas since she was a little girl and finally decided to try her luck with them. Everything is running smoothly so far. 

 “They’re not much more care than a dog. They just need fresh water every day and their hay checked and changed every couple of days.” Bulman said. Even scooping their poop is easy. They all go in the same area and it makes wonderful compost which is a very valuable and organic resource. 

The Bulman family also includes three kids, Jason and Ave and a foster child named Jaquarre. The Alpacas have been wonderful with the children because they are very sweet and curious, Bulman said. Interestingly, Alpacas actually prefer children because they are very timid by nature and feel less threatened by them. “They love anything at dog level.” Jason said. All together the Bulmans have three Alpacas, one for each of their children. The children have had a hand in taking care of the animals, by hand feeding them in the beginning and halter training them. 

The Bulmans have set up an appropriate environment for them as well. They have fenced in an area of their front yard that includes trees for shade as well as a little handmade hut for them if they want to get out of the rain or extreme heat. Many people in town are a little nervous with the Alpacas so close to one of the main streets in Duxbury, but Maura Bulman doesn’t seem to be worried. Alpacas are herding animals that are pretty timid and love to stay in one place.  They are not apt to challenge their fence, which The fence was built more to keep other threats out than to keep the alpacas in. 

Overall the Alpacas are a nice addition to the town. They’re friendly and make great pets that some people consider safer than a lot of dogs. They are also not like Llamas that can be very nasty by kicking and spitting. The Alpacas have this ability but will only use it if they feel extremely threatened. Alpacas are certainly not for everyone, but the Bulmans and a growing number of area families are finding them the perfect choice for them.