March in Montana has always liked to keep us guessing, but this year is putting on a whole show. Just seven days ago, we were digging out from a blizzard that dropped 8 to 12 inches of snow. Around here, this time of year usually means a couple feet of snow still covering the ground. Instead, this last week we’ve been looking at temperatures near 73 degrees and a ranch that suddenly feels like it skipped ahead to spring.
Our alpacas seem to understand the shift better than anyone. After the cold and snow, they step into warmer weather with an energy that is easy to spot. They spread out across the pasture, graze more eagerly, bask in the sunshine, and seem to carry themselves a little lighter. Winter has a quiet rhythm, but spring wakes everything up.
This seasonal transition affects alpacas in some very real ways. As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, they often become more active and more interested in fresh forage. They spend more time moving, exploring, and enjoying the open ground as snow melts away. You can almost see the herd collectively deciding that the hard part of winter is behind them.
Spring on the ranch always feels like a release. The snowstorms may still swing by, and Montana is never done surprising us, but the warmth, the light, and the greening ground all tell the same story. The alpacas know it. We know it. Spring is beginning to settle in.