Alpaca to school: curious animal greets students at Crystal River Elementary during first day back
Crystal River Elementary/Courtesy
Students, teachers and parents at Crystal River Elementary School in Carbondale got a surprise on their first day back Friday, an RFSD news release states. A lost alpaca wandered onto the school playground early in the morning, delighting some and confusing others. The friendly animal, quickly named “Ed” by the school community for his “apparent love for education”, seemed to enjoy exploring the playground and the ball field.
The school staff acted quickly to ensure the students’ safety, keeping them at a distance from their unexpected guest. Carbondale Police and a few locals soon arrived to help. A local rancher eventually managed to lead Ed into a horse trailer and transport him to a safe location.
“We’re just glad Ed is safe and sound,” Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson said in a press release. “The students got a memorable start to their school year. Our officers are always ready for the unexpected, but this might be one of the most entertaining calls we’ve had in a while.”
CRES Principal Aimee Brockman shared her experience of the unusual morning.
“I don’t know how common it is to see an alpaca in these parts,” Brockman told the Post Independent. “This is part of small-town living. My son came home from soccer practice and said, ‘Mom, did you know you have an eight-foot llama on your recess field?'”
By the time most students arrived, Ed was already being cornered between the elementary school and nearby Carbondale Middle School. Local ranchers Marty and Tim Nieslanik, along with the Carbondale Police Department, CRES custodian Dean Black, and CRES physical education teacher Marty Madsen, helped safely remove the alpaca.
“We’re super grateful to the Carbondale Police Department and Marty and Tim Nieslanik,” Brockman said. “They got that alpaca into the trailer with the help of our custodians.”
The first day of school is often full of surprises, but this one was particularly special.
“It’s not the first time we’ve started the first day with a surprise, but this was a particularly fun one,” Brockman said.
As of now, no one has come forward to claim Ed. The Carbondale Police Department encourages anyone with information about the alpaca to reach out at 970-963-2662.
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