POWELL, Wyo. — Carrie started her interview with the Tribune by taking a bite of the writer's notebook.
"She likes paper," explained Jan Sapp as she scolded Carrie.
The 8-month-old dromedary camel is friendly, smart, sweet and anything but shy.
"Carrie is something else," Sapp said.
Sapp has cared for the baby camel since she arrived at Arrowhead Alpacas from Missouri in March. Sapp and her husband, Eddie, have raised alpacas on their ranch east of Powell since 2006.
Alpacas and camels share similar traits — both are camelids, characterized by two-toed feet and long, slender necks. While the animals are related, that doesn't mean they became quick friends.
When Carrie arrived in Powell, she was only 2 months old, but already about 4 feet tall, about the size of an adult alpaca. As Carrie joined the alpacas in the pasture, she growled.
"I didn't know camels growled," Sapp said.
Apparently, the alpacas weren't ready for that either.
"It scared them to death. They were petrified of her," Sapp said. "Our guard llama would even stay away from her."
Carrie needed companionship, and she soon found friends: a cat named Simba and a poodle named Sadie.
"They get along very well," Sapp said.
Sapp also spent a lot of time with Carrie, getting to know her and bottle-feeding the baby camel three times a day.
Before getting Carrie, Sapp researched a lot about camels, "but now this is up close and personal," she said.
Sapp has learned Carrie's personality traits and little idiosyncrasies. For instance, she's afraid of vehicles and water, even if it's just a small puddle on the ground.
Over the course of several rainy days this summer, Carrie spent a lot of time inside the barn, out of the rain.
"She got bored. A bored camel is trouble," she said. "She learned how to turn on the light, how to open the doorknob to get into the tack room — she tipped a bag of salt over. She got the broom and took it out to her stall — she did not sweep it though. She just made a mess of anything."
Sapp expects Carrie will adjust to the colder temperatures this winter. Like other animals, her hair will grow thicker when it's cold. Carrie also has access to an insulated barn that's heated with a wood stove.
Though Carrie has a separate barn, she shares a pasture with alpaca mothers and babies.
"They had to learn to tolerate her because they had to share with her," Sapp said.
Carrie eats grass hay, like the alpacas do. She also enjoys alfalfa pellets and receives treats during training exercises.
Sapp and her son, Phill, are working to train Carrie. "We're beginning the training process. She's halter-trained, so we can lead her around," Sapp said.
Carrie is intelligent and responds well to training.
"Training is going very well," Sapp said. "Carrie is cushing (laying down) after only two times of training."
The camel comes when she's called and understands some commands.
"She is a loving animal, but mostly, we want a well-behaved animal," Sapp said.
It's much easier to train Carrie at her current size — about 5 feet tall at the hump — instead of waiting until she's older, Sapp said.
By her first birthday in January, Carrie is expected to be about the size of a standard horse. Carrie's mother is 7 feet tall at the hump, Sapp said.
When Carrie is 3 years old, the Sapps plan to have her bred so she can start producing milk.
The Sapp family hasn't decided whether they'll breed more camels and begin raising them at Arrowhead Alpacas. Sapp said personality traits are passed down in alpacas, and she hopes the same will be true with camels.
"If she has this sweet, loving personality, then hopefully her offspring will too," she said.
Why a camel?
Carrie is one of the few camels that reside in Wyoming.
The young camel has appeared at Homesteader Days and the Park County Fair and parade, and she also may make some appearances in Christmas Nativity scenes.
While she loves to interact with people and isn't camera shy, the camel isn't just a pageant animal.
"She is not a pet. She's a contributing member of the ranch," said Jan Sapp.
When raising alpacas, there are usually one or two mothers who don't produce enough milk for their offspring. The Sapps used to get goat milk as a supplement for the baby alpacas, but also looked at other options.
"I thought, why not get a camel? She's a camelid, alpacas are camelids, she can be with them ... it just seemed logical," Sapp said.
In addition, Sapp can use camel hair for yarn and blend it with the alpaca fleece.
Camel milk also can be used to make soap. While the milk can't be sold for human consumption, Sapp said their family can drink it.
Sapp has researched the health benefits of nutrient-rich camel milk and said it can be used to help people with diabetes, allergies, asthma and other conditions. The milk also has lower lactose content.
"I'm excited about the prospect of eventually having camel milk here," Sapp said.
