Alpaca breeders blame growing pest numbers across New South Wales for an unprecedented demand for the guardian animals.
Anne Fuller manages an alpaca farm at Bilpin, in the Blue Mountains, which predominantly sells young male alpacas to people with fox problems on the Central Tablelands.
"There is a huge [fox] problem here," Ms Fuller said.
Ms Fuller said the animals made "excellent herd guards".
The castrated boys, or wethers, make warning sounds if there is an intruder in a paddock and, in some cases, trample the intruder.
"When [animals are] calving or lambing the foxes are aware of this and they'll come around to take the baby animals," Ms Fuller said.
Ms Fuller's main market was people who breed chickens, sheep, cows and ducks, but she could not produce enough male alpacas quickly enough.
Up to 12-month wait for wethers
Carolyn Austin, who has bred alpacas near Yass for 25 years, has never seen demand as high as it is now.
She said she faced the same issue as Ms Fuller because of the rising value of livestock post-drought.
"That has increased the farmers' demand to have more alpaca wethers in their paddocks to guard the sheep," Ms Austin said.
"As we all see in the supermarkets, all meat is more expensive."
The increased threat of fox predation has pushed some farmers to take action to prevent any livestock losses.
"Obviously the result is not many breeders have many guardian wethers available for sale," Ms Austin said.
The price has begun to reflect the lack of supply, pushing the value of a single wether from about $200 up to about $500.
"One wether only needs to save two lambs and he's paid for himself," Ms Austin said.
The popular pet has also been snapped up by former Sydney dwellers, nicknamed "Pitt Street farmers", who have made a tree change since the pandemic.
A six to 12-month wait is in store for anyone who wants one of Ms Austin's young males.
Ms Fuller and Ms Austin both have growing waiting lists.
Control is key
Foxes, like most pests across New South Wales, have thrived thanks to the wet seasonal conditions.
One of the reasons was because a main food source for foxes — rabbits — were also being seen in higher numbers.
Central Tablelands Local Land Services biosecurity officer Alistair Gordon-Smith said it was important to use a range of methods to control wild animals.
"Things like trapping and shooting and guardian animals, so things like alpacas, are obviously becoming more popular among landholders now to try and keep those foxes at bay," Mr Gordon-Smith said.
