Two grumpy alpacas have been drafted into stop foxes from eating Christmas turkeys.
Foxes prey on turkeys
Copas Turkey, a farm in Cookham, Berkshire, has stepped up security for its 24,000 free-range turkeys in a bid to stop them from being eaten by foxes.
The two alpacas are part of a herd of 10 who have all been given festive names such as Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Donner, Onion, Prancer, Sage and Vixen - and have been promoted to head security by the family business owner Tom Copas who has run the business since 1957.
In an interview reported by the BBC, he explained: ''It's not as strange as it sounds. Alpacas are used all over the world to deter wild dogs and coyotes. We've always had dogs that keep the birds safe, but they can't be on the ranges all the time, unlike the alpacas who stay there day and night.''
It comes after hundreds of birds were killed at his farm following a series of fox attacks last year.
Now these grass-eating alpacas, which are native to South America, will ward off the foxes and protect the turkeys, because in the wild, foxes will try to kill unguarded baby alpacas.
Mr Copas added: ''Alpacas are very territorial and although they seem standoffish, they're docile and co-exist pretty happily with the turkeys.''