VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

HUELL: HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

HERE WE ARE ON A MONTHEN DAY AFTERNOON, WE'RE IN BEAUTIFUL SYLMAR, CALIFORNIA.

ON THE CORNER OF OSCAR AND GLADSTONE.

I'M STANDING HERE WITH CAROLYN AND HER ZONAL EX.

YOU SENT ME AN E-MAIL RECENTLY INVITING ME TO COME OUT TO YOUR HOUSE, ACTUALLY IT'S KIND OF A RANCH IN A WAY.

A LITTLE RANCH.

HUELL: HERE IN SYLMAR TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S QUITE UNUSUAL.

YES.

HUELL: WHAT WE WILL TRY TO DO IS BUILD SUSPENSE HERE.

LET'S WALK DOWN HERE AS WE ARE BUILDING THE SUSPENSE.

WHAT YOU RAISE IN YOUR, AT YOUR LITTLE RANCH HERE IS NOT IN NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA S IT?

NO IT'S NOT.

ORIGINALLY THEY EVOLVED HERE.

SOME OF THE ANIMALS THAT EVOLVED HERE WENT TO ASIA AND AFRICA AND SOME WENT TO SOUTH AMERICAN.

THOSE HERE IN NORTH AMERICA DIED OUT.

HUELL: A LONG TIME AGO.

A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

HUELL: OKAY.

I'M TRYING THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO BUILDUP THE SUSPENSE.

ARE THERE MANY HERE?

AT THIS POINT ABOUT EIGHTEEN THOUSAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE'S ABOUT ELEVEN HUNDRED IN CALIFORNIA.

HUELL: HUH-UH.

OF THE 11 HUNDRED IN CALIFORNIA HOW MANY ARE IN YOUR BACK YARD?

FOURTEEN.

HUELL: FOURTEEN.

WE HAVE JUST ABOUT MILKED ALL WE CAN OUT OF THIS.

LET'S GIVE IT AWAY, THIS IS QUITE INTERESTING.

WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACK YARD, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, LOUIE.

CAN WE COME IN HERE, COME ON.

TELL ME, I DON'T WANT TO GO IN BY MYSELF.

THEY BOATEN BITE YOU.

HUELL: THEY WON'T.

LOOK AT THEM.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALPACAS.

NOW YOU TOLD ME YOU THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE SHY.

YES.

THEY'RE, IF YOU GO TO TRY TO TOUCH THEM THEY PROBABLY WON'T WANT -- SEE THEY'RE TURNING THEIR BACKS.

HE HAS A FUNNY BIG THING ON HIS SHOULDER AND THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

HUELL: LOOK AT THIS ONE LOOKING AT US.

THAT'S ENERGIZER.

HUELL: THIS IS THE MOST CURIOUS?

YES.

THIS ONE AND ONE OF THE OTHERS.

YES, HELLO.

- HUELL: LOOK AT THEM.

COME ON.

CAN WE FEED THEM?

YES I'LL GET PELLETS AND THEN THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

HUELL: LOOK AT THEM.

THEY'RE MAKING A FUNNY NOISE.

THEY HUM.

- HUELL: THEY HUM.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY NOISE THEY MAKE?

YES UNLESS THEY GET FRIGHTENED BUT THEY'RE QUIET.

HUELL: I HAVEN'T TOUCHED THEM, CAN I TOUCH THEM?

SURE.

HUELL: NOW -- THAT ONE IS BEING VERY GOOD.

THEY ARE BETTER IF YOU TOUCH THEM ON THEIR NECK OR BACK.

HUELL: DO THEY BITE?

THEY ONLY HAVE BOTTOM TEETH.

HUELL: I'M RUBBING RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM.

HA, HA.

LOOK AT THIS ONE, LOUIE.

OH, BOY, THEY'RE A LITTLE SCARED.

YES.

IF YOU REACH FOR THEM THEY MIGHT BACK OFF.

HUELL: I WAS GOING TO PUT MY SUN GLASSES DOWN BUT I WAS AFRAID THEY MIGHT GRAB THEM.

MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT THOSE IN YOUR POCKET, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEM INTO ALPACA FOOD.

LET ME PUT THIS AROUND MY WASTE.

HUELL: HOW DOES THIS WORK.

WHAT DO WE FEED THEM?

AN A PELLET WITH A VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT WITH CORN AND WHEAT.

HUELL: THEY LIKE THE PELLETS.

YES, THEY DO.

HUELL: HERE HE GOES.

OH, BOY.

THIS LIKE AN ANIMAL PETING ZOO.

LOOK AT THIS.

THEY HAVE TEETH.

BOT BOMB TEETH BUT NONE ON THE TOP.

- HUELL: WHAT DO YOUR NEIGHBORS THINK ABOUT THIS?

YES.

MY NEIGHBORS MOSTLY HAVE A LOT OF ANIMALS THEIR OWN.

THEY'RE CURIOUS AND INTERESTED, THEY LIKE ANIMALS A LOT.

WE HAVE A COW AND HORSES NEXT DOOR.

MY NEIGHBOR IN THE BACK WORKS AT THE WILD LIFE STATION AND IS INVOLVED WITH ANIMALS ALSO.

THIS IS SYLMAR, EVERYONE LIKES ANIMALS.

HUELL: HOW DID YOU DECIDE -- HA, HA,.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ALPACAS?

WELL, I LEARNED -- I NEVER HEARD OF ALPACAS UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO.

WHEN I WAS LEARNING TO SPIN, HAND SPIN, AND MY TEACHER WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL FIBER CALLED ALPACA.

THEY'RE IS ALSO THE WILD ALPACAS.

YOU ARE AN LOUD TO HAVE THIS FIBER, IT'S TOO RARE AND SPECIAL.

HUELL: LOOK AT THIS LOUIE, THIS IS INTERESTING.

THERE ARE FLIES HERE THOUGH.

YES.

HUELL: LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

THEY DRAW FLIES.

YES, THEY DO.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT.

WE TRY TO GET AS MANY AS WE CAN.

HUELL: SOME ARE WHITE, SOME ARE BROWN AND SOME ARE BLACK.

YES.

ALPACAS COME IN THE MOST NATURAL COLORS OF ANY FIBER ANIMAL.

HUELL: THIS FEELS LIKE A SHEEP WOULD?

YES.

HE HAS BEAUTIFUL FIBER HERE.

HUELL: THIS HAS A STRINGY FIBER.

YES THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BREEDS, THE HUACAYA WHICH ARE THE FURRY ONES AND THE SURI'S THEY'RE MORE STRINGY.

THE SURIS ARE MORE RARE, THEY WERE KILLED OFF FOR THE SHEEP TO GRAZE.

THE SURIS -- THE PEOPLE TOOK THEIR ANIMALS AS HIGH AS THEY COULD IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THE SURIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS PART IN THE BACK CAN NOT LIVE AS WELL IN THE COLD.

SO, THE SURIS DIDN'T SURVIVE AS WELL AS THE HUACAYA.

HUELL: THESE ARE ALL FROM PERU?

THEY COME FROM THE -- HUELL: WHERE DO YOU FIND ALPACAS, NATURALLY NOW?

THEY HAVE BEEN DOMESTICATED FOR SIX THOUSAND YEARS.

HUELL: WHEN YOU SAY DOMESTICATED, HOW DO PEOPLE USE THEM?

FOR MEAT AND FIBER.

THE INCAS, THE ALPACAS, THEY HAD SPECIAL HEARDS OF ALPACAS THAT ONLY THE UPPER CLASS AND ROYALTY WERE ALLOWED TO USE THE FIBER BECAUSE IT'S SO SPECIAL.

THE LOWER CLASSES USED LAMA FUR, MOSTLY THE LAMA, WHICH IS NICE, BUT THE LAMAS HAVE TWO COATS INSTEAD OF ONE.

THE OUTER COAT, LIKE A MUSK OX.

HUELL: LOOK AT THIS ONE, HE'S COVERED IN HAIR UP AROUND HIS -- IS IT ABOUT TIME FOR THE SHEARING?

YES IT'S ABOUT TIME.

WE WILL SHEAR THEM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HUELL: DO YOU JUST SHEAR THEM ONCE A YEAR?

YES.

I TRY TO GET THEM SHORTER SO IN OCTOBER THEY HAVEN'T GWN A WHOLE LOT BACK.

HUELL: THEIR LETTING ME -- THEY'RE BUSY EATING BUT THEY LET ME RUB THEM.

YOU TOLD ME ON THE PHONE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET CLOSE TO THEM, I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE THEM.

THEY'RE SO CURIOUS.

YES.

VERY CURIOUS.

- HUELL: NOW, DO THEY MAKE GOOD PETS?

AS LONG AS UP DON'T NEED A PET THAT WILL COME UP AND NEED TO BE -- THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HUGED.

- HUELL: THEY LOOK PRETTY FRIENDLY TO ME.

I THINK THEY'RE TOLERATED.

THESE ARE GOOD GUYS.

MY GOOD GUYS.

- HUELL: YOUR LITTLE BOY PLAYS WITH THEM, NO PROBLEMS NOT REALLY.

HE CAME UP BEHIND THEM ONCE AND HE WAS KICKED.

- HUELL: LOOK AT THIS ONE OUT HERE ALONE.

THEY'RE MAJESTIC.

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN OF AN ANIMAL THERE.

SAY THANK YOU.

HUELL: YOU HAVE NAMES FOR ALL OF THEM?

YES.

THERE IS A REGISTER FOR ALL OF THEM.

WE KEEP TRACK OF THE LINNAGES.

HUELL: NOW, IS THIS A NEW TREND IN CALIFORNIA, ALPACAS?

I.

HAVE HEARD OF OSTRICHES.

THEN THERE WERE LAMAS BECOMING A BIG DEAL.

NOW IT'S ALPACAS?

I HOPE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD LONG TIME -- WOULD I LOVE TO SEE ALPACAS IN THE FIELDS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON.

HUELL: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

LIKE HOW YOU SEE SHEEP IN THE FIELDS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALPACAS LIKE THAT.

HUELL: HOW DID YOU GET FIXATED ON ALPACAS?

WHAT BROUGHT YOU OVER TO ALPACAS?

I WAS GOING TO -- I GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT LAMAS.

HUELL: LOOK AT THIS BROWN ONE HERE.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I'M SO FASCINATED WITH WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

THEY'RE FASCINATED BY YOU TOO.

HUELL: THEY'RE VERY CURIOUS, LOOK AT THE MICROPHONE.

- WHAT IS HE ASKING YOU, HUH?

HUELL: YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR FACES WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM STRAIGHT ON ALMOST LOOK LIKE HORSES IN A FUNNY WAY.

THEY HAVE AWFULLY BIG EYES.

YES.

HUELL: THIS ONE, LOUIE, IS THE MOST CURIOUS OF ALL.

YES.

HUELL: YOU KNEW THAT, DIDN'T YOU?

YES.

I KNEW IT WOULD BE HIM.

I'M SURPRISEED THIS ONE HATEN BEEN, HE TOO IS PRETTY CURIOUS.

HUELL: NOW IS IT, IS THIS AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY?

WELL I HOPE IT'S NOT A HOBBY.

I'M TRYING TO DO THIS AS A BUSINESS.

THEY'RE -- I HAVE DONE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THEN MOST PEOPLE.

PEOPLE PEOPLE BUY A FEMALE OR TWO AND HAVE THE BABIES AND SELL THE BABIES.

IF FEMALES ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

I HAVE BOUGHT MALES.

WE HAVE A FIBER CO-OP.

I WILL SHEAR THEM AND SEND THE FIBER TO THE CO-OP.

HOPEFULLY MAKE A LITTLE MONEY ON IT.

HUELL: WHAT DO YOU USE IT FOR?

EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF ALPACA SWEATERS, RIGHT?

YES.

HUELL: WHAT DOLES YOU USE IT FOR?

THIS HAS AN INTERESTING FEEL TO IT.

WHAT DO YOU USE THAT FOR?

YOU CAN MAKE THE SWEATERS, HATS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WE ALSO HAVE BLANKETS.

I'M WORKING ON A LINE OF CLOTHING, SUITS FOR WOMEN.

BECAUSE THE FIBER IS SO WARM AND SOFT, IT'S NOT SCRATCH EE LIKE WOOL.

PEOPLE THAT ARE ALLERGIC TO SHEEP'S WOOL USUALLY ARE NOT TO ALPACA.

IT'S STRONGER THEN WOOL.

IT'S MORE RESILIENT.

HUELL: NOW WE HAVE THE WHOLE FAMILY COMING HERE.

INTRODUCE US ALL.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER BRITTNY.

THIS IS MY HUSBAND EDUARDO AND HIS MOTHER.

HUELL: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALL OF THE ALPACAS?

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

HUELL: NOW WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE YOU WERE OUT HERE WORKING WITH THEM.

THAT'S RIGHT.

HUELL: WHAT ARE THE CHORES YOU ARE ASSIGNED?

SCOOP THE POOP.

I CLEAN AFTER THEM.

I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE LOTS OF WATER.

I FEED THEM TWICE A DAY ON THE DAYS I'M NOT WORKING.

HUELL: WAS THIS YOUR IDEA OR YOUR WIFE'S IDEA?

MY WIFE'S IDEA.

HER VISION.

HUELL: WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN SHE SAID HONEY, I WANT 15 ALPACAS IN OUR BACKYARD?

I DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA AT FIRST.

AGREED AND THEN I SAID OKAY, DO YOU THE WORK.

NOW I'M ALSO WORKING HERE.

HUELL: YOU KNEW THAT WOULD HAPPEN?

I ACTUALLY DIDN'T.

- HUELL: HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE DO THEY TAKE, REALLY?

LOPE MAINTENANCE IN MANY WAYS.

HUELL: THEY LOOK LIKE HAPPY ANIMALS JUST BEING OUT HERE?

YES.

THEY LOVE WATER ACTUALLY.

FROM TIME TO TIME, ONE OF MY CHORES IS TO WET THEIR FEET, THEY LOVE THAT.

HUELL: COULD WE DO THAT?

SURE QUO TAKE THEM OUT IN THE PASTURE.

HUELL: YOU HAVE A PASTURE AS WELL.

YES AND WHEN ONE LEAVES THE REST FOLLOW.

HUELL: THEY'RE HERD ANIMALS IS THERE A LEADER?

YES THIS ONE HERE.

HUELL: THE BIG WHITE ONE.

YES HE MAKES SURE THEY'RE OKAY AND WATCHES FOR THEM ALL.

HE'S ALERT ALL OF THE TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

HUELL: HERE THEY COME.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

THEY LIKE TO RUN OUT.

HERE THEY ALL COME.

THEY DO THIS JUMP, LIKE THAT.

HUELL: LOOK, LOUIE.

THEY'RE JUST SO HAPPY TO BE OUT.

THEY LOVE TO BE OUT IN THE PASTURE.

HUELL: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSE TO BE.

YES.

HUELL: OUT LIKE THIS.

THEY'RE HAPPIER OUT HERE WITH THE GRASS.

BUT -- HUELL: LOOK.

THIS IS JUST GREAT.

LOOK AT THEM.

LOOKING FOR MORE FOOD.

HUELL: NOW THEY HAVE A WHOLE OTHER ENERGY LEVEL HERE.

THEY'RE OUT, RUNNING AROUND, HEY BOYS.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT DO THEY BASICALLY EAT?

JUST GRASS?

I GIVE THEM, THIS ISN'T ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THEM.

IT'S HARD TO KEEP THIS WATERED ENOUGH TO GET ENOUGH GRASS.

HUELL: LOOK AT THEM COMING OVER HERE.

SO, I LET THEM GRAZE OUT HERE AS MUCH AS I CAN AND WE GIVE THEM GRASS HAY.

THE HORSE HAY HAS TOO MUCH PROTEIN, THEY'RE VERY EFFICIENT EATERS.

HUELL: CAN WE WATER?

HOW DOES THAT WORK.

THEY COME HERE.

HUELL: THEY LIKE THE WATER.

YES THEY LIKE THE SOUND OF THE WATER, THE FEEL OF THE WATER.

HUELL: LOOK.

THEY LIKE THAT WATER ON THEIR FEET.

ANOTHER ONE CAN SIT IN.

HUELL: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING.

CAN DO I THAT A LITTLE BIT.

SURE.

HUELL: THAT'S FUN.

- JUST DOWN.

HUELL: WHAT IS HE DOING.

HE'S CURBING.

HUELL: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

HE SITS DOWN.

IT'S LIKE A CAM AL, IT'S A RELATIVE OF THE CAM HE WILL.

HUELL: WHY DOES DOUGH THAT?

TO GET MORE OF THE COOLNESS, THE WATER.

THIS SAY SPECIAL KUDDLE.

HUELL: THIS IS THE CURIOUS ONE ANYWAYS.

HE LOVES TO CUSH.

HUELL: CUSH?

YES.

HUELL: HE WANTS A BATH.

HE LIKES IT.

YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

HUELL: DON'T THINK I'M O COMING TO DO YOUR CHORES FOR YOU.

LOOK AT THAT.

YES.

THAT'S CALLED CUSHING.

YES WHEN THEY SIT DOWN.

HUELL: THAT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT.

- THAT'S HOW THEY SLEEP.

THAT'S HOW THEY REST ALSO.

THAT'S HOW THEY LYE DOWN.

HUELL: WHILE HE'S CUSHING, THESE OVER HERE ARE EATING.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CUSHINNG.

NOW THEY JUST WANT THE GRASS.

HUELL: THIS IS A WHOLE NEW THING HERE IN CALIFORNIA?

YES.

YOU CAN'T IMPORT ALPACAS UNTIL I THINK 1983.

THEY IMPORTED THEM FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, LAST YEAR THEY CLOSED THE REGISTERY.

WE CAN'T IMPORT ANYMORE WE JUST HAVE THE BABIES OF THE EIGHTEEN THOUSAND HERE NOW.

HUELL: WHY CAN'T YOU IMPORT ANYMORE?

PERU DIDN'T WANT TO EXPORT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE BROADERS HERE, THEY DECIDED WE HAVE ENOUGH AND WE WOULD BUILD ON OUR OWN HERDS.

WE DON'T GET THEM WET ON THEIR BACKS.

WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HEAT.

THIS IS A WARMER CLIMATE THEN WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED IN PERU, BOWLIVE BOLIVIA AND CHILE.

HUELL: LOOK HOW WHITE AND BEAUTIFUL AND FLUFFY IS HE.

WHY?

HE HAS FINE FIBER.

THE QUALITY OF THE FIEBER IS DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS.

HE LOOKS VERY FLUFFY.

HUELL: HOW MANY SWEATERS CAN YOU GET OFF THIS ONE IF YOU SHEAR HIM?

HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF FIBER, IT'S VERY FINE.

PROBABLY ABOUT THREE SWEATERS OUT OF HIM.

IN ONE YEAR'S SHEARING.

HUELL: WHY DID YOU LAUGH AT THAT SGHE I NEVER THOUGHT OF AN ANIMAL CARRYING SO MANY SWEATERS.

HUELL: IF YOU PAY THE FEED BILL YOU BETTER HOPE FOR AT LEAST THREE SWEATERS, YOU BETTER HOPE FOR 30 SWEATERS OUT HERE.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

IT WOULD MAKE THE INVESTMENT WORTHWHILE, YES.

HUELL: THIS HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING.

HE'S EATING THE -- HE LIKES THE POMGRANITE BUSH.

HUELL: THESE ARE USUALLY FOUND HIGH, HIGH UP IN THE ANDIES IN PERU.

YES.

HUELL: THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM ABING KLI MATING TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?

IN THE SUMMER WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND MIDST THEM AND WATER THEM DOWN AND KEEP THEM IN THE SHADE.

UP THERE IT FROSTS 300 NIGHTS A YEAR.

IT CAN BE AS WARM AS 70 DURING THE DAYS.

THERE'S A BIG TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE.

THEY'RE HEARTY ANIMALS AND EFFICIENT IN HOW THEIR BODIES WORK.

WE HAVEN'T HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM.

THEY WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE THEIR COATS OFF WHEN WE FINISH SHEARING THEM.

HUELL: THIS WILL BE A FIRST FOR YOU?

WE CAN'T BE HERE FOR THE SHEARING, THAT WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE THOUGH?

YES.

DOING 14 ALPACAS WILL TAKE A WHOLE DAY T WILL BE DUSTY, HOT AND HARD WORK.

HUELL: DID YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ALPACAS BEFORE YOU STARTED ON THIS ADVENTURE?

I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM TO BEGIN WITH, THEN I TRIED TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I COULD BEFORE I ACTUALLY GOT THE ALPACAS.

HUELL: THIS HAS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S NOT THE MOST RIVETING STORING WE HAVE EVER DONE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST -- LOOK.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND UNUSUAL.

TO FIND A YARD FULL OF ALPACAS HERE IN SYLMAR.

IT'S BEEN AN EXPERIENCE FOR US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU ARE, WELCOME.

HUELL: FOR HAVING US OVER HERE.

A WET HAND.

HUELL: THAT'S OKAY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

HE'S GOING DOWN.

THEY WANT THEIR BELLY'S WET.

IT FEELS GOOD ON THE COOL GROUND.

IF YOU WANT TO COME IN I HAVE SWEATERS AND THINGS YOU CAN FEEL AND LOOK AT.

HUELL: WHY DON'T YOU GET THE SWEATERS AND WE'LL END THE PROGRAM OUT HERE WITH THE SWEATERS BEFORE AND AFTER.

OKAY.

HUELL: YOUR HUSBAND CAN GET AN IDEA AS TO WHAT THE HARVEST WILL PRODUCE.

OKAY.

HUELL: OKAY SHE'S GOING TO GET THE SWEATER.

WE WILL WATCH THEM WATER DOWN HERE FOR MINUTE.

ELGARDO WAS JUST TELLING ME THAT EACH ONE OF THESE HAS IT'S OWN PERSONALITY?

THAT'S CORRECT.

EACH HAS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THEM.

SOMEBODY MAY BE ALOOF, ANOTHER SHY.

IT'S VERY, VERY UNIQUE.

- HUELL: DO YOU THINK THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

BASICALLY THEY HAVE GOTTEN USE TO ME.

SO THEY'RE, THEY, I THINK THEY KNOW ME.

HUELL: THEY'RE NOT LIKE PETS, ARE THEY?

NO.

HUELL: THEY LOOK LIKE THEY WOULD MAKE GREAT PETS.

THEY WO.

YOU BASICALLY KEEP ALPACAS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING USEFUL OUT OF THEM.

HUELL: LOOK HOW THE BEAUTIFUL, REACHING UP -- THEY'RE JUST BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS.

THEY ARE.

THEY'RE VERY UNIQUE.

I LIKE THE ASPECT OF THE LOW MAINTENANCE TO BERINGS ME THAT'S IMPORTANT.

HUELL: OF COURSE YOU WOULD LIKE THAT.

HUELL: HERE COME THE SWEATERS, COME ON LADIES.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON, THE PAYOFF HERE.

LET'S SEE THE SWEATERS IN THE FOREGROUND AND THE ANIMALS IN THE BACKGROUND HERE.

COME OVER.

COME OVER.

LET'S HOLD THESE UP AND GET A GOOD FEEL FOR THEM.

THIS IS A MACHINE KNIT.

HUELL: ALPACA.

THIS IS THIS IS PROBABLY VERY FINE QUALITY, IT'S CALLED "BABY ALPACA".

- HUELL: HUH-UH.

THIS IS HEAVIER, LIKE A SKI SWEATER.

IT'S ALSO FINE BUT MADE HEAVIER.

THIS WAS HAND KNIT IN BOLIVIA.

THIS IS A WOVEN SCARF AND BRUSHED.

HUELL: IT HAS THAT WONDERFUL FEEL TO.

THAT'S A HAND SPUN AND HAND KNIT SWEATER.

HUELL: AND YOU HAVE GLOVES HERE TOO.

THAT'S RIGHT.

HUELL: WHERE DO THE COLORS R THESE NATURAL?

THOSE ARE ALL NATURAL COLORS.

THE BLACK, WHITE, BROWN.

THIS IS NOT, OF COURSE.

- HUELL: RIGHT.

THEY'RE ARE NO ALPACAS THIS COLOR?

ARE YOU HOLDING SOMETHING OUT ON ME?

NOT THAT I HAVE SEEN.

HUELL: THAT WOULD BE A STORY.

YES.

HUELL: YOU HAVE GOT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE HERE?

THIS ISN'T A NATURAL COLOR, BUT MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE.

HUELL: THERE'S THE ALPACAS ON THERE?

YES.

THE MOM AND THE BABY.

HUELL: ALPACAS, ALPACA WOOL IS STILL VERY MUCH SOUGHT AFTER ALL OVER THE WORLD?

YES IT'S HARD TO COME BY.

MOST OF THE ALPACA COMES FROM SOUTH AMERICA GO TO JAPAN.

HUELL: THERE'S THAT LITTLE ONE.

THAT'S WHO?

USHMAL.

HUELL: HE'S SO INQUISITIVE.

SORRY I INTERRUPTED YOU AGAIN.

MOST OF THE WOOL GOES TO ITALY AND JAPAN FOR DESIGNER CLOTHES.

THE NORTH AMERICAN ALPACA PEOPLE HAVE A CO-OP AND WE'RE PULLING OUR FIBER TOGETHER AND HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT MORE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

AT THIS POINT IT'S HARD TO COME BY.

HUELL: WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT LET'S STAND OVER HERE.

CALIFORNIA IS KNOWN FOR IT'S CHEESE, WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR ORANGES, WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR AVENUE AVOCADOS, WE'RE KNOWN FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

THANKS TO THIS LITTLE RANCH HERE IN SYLMAR AND OTHER LITTLE RANCHES ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA WILL SOON BE KNOWN FOR ALPACAS AS WELL.

I HOPE SO.

HUELL: THERE'S SOMETHING VERY STRANGE ABOUT WATCHING ALPACAS UNDER THE ORANGE TREES.

YES.

WE HAVE THE ORANGE TREES AND ALPACAS THIS IS OUR SMALL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DREAM.

HUELL: ONLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

WHY NOT?

STH.

IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING US.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

HUELL: I WEAR AN EXTRA LARGE.

JUST INCASE.

HA, HA.

HUELL: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY.

ALPACAS HAVE ARRIVED IN SYLMAR.

YES.

HUELL: THEY LIKE THAT WATER ON THEIR FEET.

ANOTHER ONE COMES IN.

HUELL: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING.

CAN I DO THAT A LITTLE BIT?

SURE.

SURE.

HUELL: THAT'S FUN.

GO DOWN ON THE FEET.

JUST THE FEET.

WHAT IS HE DOING?

CUSHING.

HUELL: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

HE SITS DOWN.

IT'S LIKE A CAMEL.

THIS IS A RELATIVE OF THE CAMEL.

HUELL: WHY DOES HE DO THIS?

TO GET MORE OF THE COOLNESS.

HUELL: THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S SO CURIOUS ANYWAY.

YES HE LOVES TO CUSH.

VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

HUELL: HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT ALPACAS, AN ALPACA UPDATE FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE OF THESE FASCINATING ANIMALS UP CLOSE.

CAROLYN TELLS US SHE WILL BE AT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FAIR AT?

BURBANK EQUESTRIAN CENTER JUNE 10, 11, 12, 13.

HUELL: AND WILL YOU HAVE A LITTLE BOOTH SET UP?

YES.

I WILL HAVE SOME SWEATERS FOR SALE AND BOOKS ABOUT ALPACAS AND I WILL BRING SEVERAL OF MY ALPACAS FOR PEOPLE TO MEET.

HUELL: I HOPE YOU BRING THE LITTLE INQUISITIVE ONE.

HE WILL BE A NATURAL THERE.

OKAY.

HUELL: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE ALPACAS UP CLOSE COME TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FAIR AND LOOK UP CAROLYN.

IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO HARD TO FIND HER.

SHE WILL BE SURROUNDED BY FOUR INQUISITIVE ALPACAS AND WILL YOU BE GLAND TO ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.