Boutiques & Specialty shops
Locey Creek Alpacas
Just ten miles from the center of Wellsboro is a fifth-generation family farm that welcomes visitors. Here at Locey Creek Alpacas (www.loceycreekalpacas.com), Penny and Steve Cruttenden currently oversee a herd of thirty-three alpacas, raised for their fiber and champion genetics (and extreme cuteness). As you walk up to the pen holding the girls, a protective Great Pyrenees lumbers out from the barn with a few “woofs!” and keeps herself between you and the herd. Delilah is the herd protector, and she lives with the female alpacas. Her sister, Angel, lives with the boys in their pen. The dogs are extremely vigilant, Penny explains, and work with the alpacas to keep predators like coyotes at bay. The dogs seem to enjoy the job, and the alpacas seem to recognize the pair’s role as guardian. Penny beats on a five-gallon bucket, yelling, “Here, girls!” as the fluffy camelids (an herbivorous family that includes alpacas, camels, and llamas) eagerly trot to the fence, anticipating handfuls of grain. “Alpacas are herd animals,” she says, “We recommend that prospective owners start with at least a pair.” One dark Huacaya makes a few ominous, guttural noises and spits a plug of what looks like lawn clippings directly into the eye of the alpaca next to her. “That came from her third stomach,” Penny explains. “That other alpaca got too close to her space, and she was worried she’d lose out on her share of the grain.” Penny says she is rarely the target of the alpaca spitting, but sometimes gets caught in the crossfire. The Cruttendens breed and sell alpacas for those interested in “living the dream” of having their own animals, and contract their best males as studs to those looking to grow their herd with quality genetics. They offer ongoing support to new alpaca owners and give advice on their care—from fencing and breeding to nutrition and vaccination. The farm also sells super-soft alpaca fiber products like gloves, hats, boot/shoe inserts, teddy bears, and blankets. Alpacas aren’t the only friendly animals on the property. A handful of blue-eyed Nigerian Dwarf goats prance in a pen near the barn, coming close for a scratch under the chin. Penny and Steve’s daughter, Madison, shows the goats, along with the two lionhead rabbits lounging in nearby hutches. Steve pulls a rabbit out and offers it to touch; its coat is as soft as whipped buttercream. Locey Creek Alpacas participates in a variety of community events and outreach. Individuals and organizations may request a hands-on experience with the animals. As it is a working farm, guests are asked to call—either (570) 376-2066 or (570) 439-2639—to arrange a visit.
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