Hidden RI Gem: Shadow Pines Alpaca Farm

EXETER, R.I. (WPRI) - When most people think about Rhode Island they think, beaches, clam cakes and chowder. But how about Alpacas?

Bob and Vivian Ball started the farm back in 2002 after trying to figure out what to do after retirement.

"I think it was more my thing than Vivian's, and I got to thinking about retiring and said, well if I'm going to do it I might as well get it done," said Bob. "We started looking around at different animals actually, we hadn't really settled on alpacas yet. We followed our youngest daughter around playing field hockey for Quinnipiac and we were traveling from Maine to Virginia just about every weekend with her, and we started looking at Alpaca farms. We fell in love with them and the rest is history I guess."

Bob compares an Alpaca's personality to a cat. A big cat.

"Most of these animals are full grown. They get to be about 150 pounds, on the average. I have some that are less than that, I have some that go up to 180 or 190, but on the average maybe 150."

If you're ever around an Alpaca, be on the lookout, they may spit at you.

"I won't say that an Alpaca won't spit, but it's rare. Usually if they're spitting at each other when they're fighting over their food or their space."

A total of 29 Alpacas live on Shadow Pines Alpaca Farm .

"They're very easy to take care of. They're low maintenance. We feed our Alpacas once a day with grain, they get one cup of grain a piece and we make sure that they have fresh hay and fresh water all day long."

Alpacas come from Peru, Chile and Bolivia. And they happen to like the cold weather.

"They prefer the cold weather to the summer, yes. They'll spend most of their day in the barn in the summertime when they're using the barn for shade, but in the winter they're out under the overhang, they're out in the field, they really enjoy themselves."

If you're interested, you can even buy an Alpaca of your very own.

"We sell Alpacas to folks as pets, we sell Alpacas to folks that want to harvest the fleece and spin their own yarn, and then there's the investment grade Alpaca that would be a breeding stock, a breeding Alpaca," explained Bob.

While some are taking off to exotic places when they retire, Bob says life on the farm has been good. 

"It is hard work some days, when you wake up in the morning and it's pouring like crazy, you know it's tough to drag your butt out and go to the barn and take care of them, but I haven't regretted a day of it yet."

Shadow Pines Alpaca Farm does have tours for daycare kids and visitors from all over the country. 

They also sell items made out of the fleece from their Alpacas. 

If you would like to take a tour, you can call them at 401-295-7859 or 401-255-5171.

Online: shadowpinesfarm.com/

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