Alpacas are herd animals, but there is always a queen – particularly among the females. The males, like most species, are much easier going.

In this pack, Ginger is the Queen. She stands tall and regal prepared to spit at anyone she perceives as in her way. She makes me giggle as she knows me and postures around me. She is in love with her owner, and perceives me as a threat when I am inside the pasture. If she could speak I believe she would tell me to pound sand and leave her man alone – speaking to him when she is around is clearly forbidden!

Ginger, although a capable queen, occasionally lapses into battle mode with nothing but projectile spitting on her mind – I wonder, often, what it would be like if humans interacted in the same way.

I can see it now – several females in a room, and one is overly dominant. Every time a minion enters – petewy, green slime all over your face. It smells horrible and it drips so there you would be green slime dripping down your cheeks and ginger doodles parading around the room in her perfectly coiffed hair and high brow demeanor making sure everyone knew who was boss.

There is a deep loyalty in Ginger also. She guards all of the babies all the time. Woah to you who dares to come too close if mama is not visible. Petewy all over you for sure! And man will you smell!

The truth of the matter is, alpacas rarely spit, unless threatened. Ginger is unique and lovely. It is a true privilege when she gives kisses and to feel her soft nuzzle when your back is turned is a true gift. She may be rough around the edges, but her heart is in the right place. She knows her role, she plays it well and if you get too close to her heart, she’ll spatter you with a three warning shot spit and finally the full blown deal.

Think of the wars that could be avoided if we simply all lived like this queen, three warning spits, petewey, and onward…Perhaps Jon is right, woman should rule the world – spit is optional!….