Meet Captain Jack (or just Jack, Lindsey likes everyone to have a rank).
Jack came to Good Life Ranch to be our goat guardian. Alpacas and llamas have a natural dislike of canines so they make good herd guardians for sheep and goats against coyotes as long as you just have 1-2 alpacas or llamas. If you have a small herd of llamas or alpacas they tend to hang out more with each other than the animals they are supposed to be guardian. They are also relatively tall, so they have good line of sight over the pasture grasses and are better able to spot approaching danger than the shorter goats and sheep.
According to Theresa, Jack’s previous owner, Jack did guard goats earlier in his life. Then they another male alpaca. He and Jack were best buddies until, you guessed it, they got female alpacas. Then Jack’s former friend refused to tolerate his presence in the same pasture and continually chased Jack into the pond. Since Jack is a gelding and can’t reproduce, he was the alpaca who became expendable.
Jack has settled into his new role very quickly. Maybe he remembers doing it before. The goats all were curious but scared at first, but all warmed up to Jack pretty fast and now they all will sleep beside him at night and run underneath him at the first hint of danger.
Thank you Theresa for letting us give Jack a great new home!
Good Life Ranch 