Gunman decimates alpaca herd
Staff writer
Eight alpacas were shot in the head late Sunday or early Monday at Prairie Oak Alpaca Farm just north of Peabody.
Jeff Methvin said his wife, Laurie, discovered one of the alpacas as she was leaving for work Monday. He returned home from work and “started finding more alpacas.”
Six of the eight that were shot died. As of Tuesday, two that were shot were still alive.
Three alpacas weren’t shot. Five were missing initially, likely spooked by the sound of gunfire. One returned by Monday morning. By Tuesday, four more had returned.
The alpacas were part of a business — the Methvins make sweaters, hats, gloves, yarn, teddy bears, and other items from the animals’ fiber — but all had names.
“We’ve been raising alpacas for 20 years,” he said.
Methvin said he had no idea why someone might shoot the animals.
His brother came over Monday morning to help move the deceased alpacas.
No other animals at their property at 857 Old Mill Rd. had been shot.