PORT CHESTER, NY (October 12, 2025) — A curious alpaca turned a routine highway trip into an impromptu adventure, escaping its trailer on Interstate 95/287 and wandering into this Westchester County suburb before being safely returned to its owner by quick-acting local police.
The incident occurred when the rear gate of the trailer popped open mid-journey on the busy 95/287 corridor, setting the animal free to explore Port Chester. Officers from the Port Chester Police Department responded swiftly, keeping the alpaca calm and safe until its owner arrived on scene to corral it, ensuring a peaceful resolution.
Alpacas, domesticated South American camelids related to llamas and vicuñas, are native to the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Chile. These gentle herd animals stand about 3 feet tall at the shoulder, weigh 100-200 pounds and boast over 22 natural colors of hypoallergenic wool that’s warmer and finer than sheep’s.
Domesticated for over 6,000 years, alpacas were vital to Inca culture for fiber, meat and fuel from their nutrient-rich manure. Today, nearly 4 million exist globally—mostly in South America but thriving on U.S. farms since the 1980s—and are prized for sustainable farming, therapy work and agritourism.
Social and low-maintenance, alpacas hum to communicate, spit to assert dominance (rarely at humans) and live 15-25 years in herds, grazing efficiently without overgrazing pastures.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.