JOHN DAY — If you hadn’t noticed, John Day has a new, one-of-a-kind resident. Her name is Hilde (pronounced Hill-dee), and she’s a camel.

Hilde’s owners, Talyn and Tabitha Elliott, have had her for a little over two weeks, purchasing her from HQ Ranch in Oklahoma for $16,000. Originally interested in a mule as a pack animal, Talyn said he came across an article about camels that sparked his interest.

After six months of research on camels, Talyn made a two-day excursion to Oklahoma to pick up Hilde and bring her to her new home in Grant County.

“I learned they’re kind of the ultimate animal,” he said. “They eat anything, can go an extended period of time without water and can carry half a ton for 25 miles a day as an adult.”

Camels come in two varieties, the two-humped Bactrian and the much more common dromedary, which has just one of the fatty deposits on its back. Hilde is 75% Bactrian and has two hump.

At 2½ years old, she weighs 1,100 pounds and is 7 feet tall but will grow to 1,800 pounds and 8 feet tall in adulthood.

That size and hauling capacity are essential to Talyn’s plans for Hilde. The Elliotts were set to open an ice cream shop in the old Deline Building on Main Street in John Day before an electrical fire gutted the building and led to its demolition.

That led to a change of plans, which now involve Hilde pulling a Fire & Ice Cream cart.

Talyn said he also plans on utilizing Hilde in other ways, such as giving rides, packing elk meat out of the woods during hunting season, and making deliveries for John Day Floral.

Hilde’s fur is similar to a sheep’s wool and can be used in the same ways. Talyn said he’s already had inquiries from people who want to use the wool Hilde will shed in the hot summer months.

Talyn said Hilde’s age and rapid joint growth largely prohibit adults from riding her at this point, but kids are just fine. Adults will have to wait until Hilde reaches adulthood before catching a ride between the two humps on her back. In the meantime, Talyn can be seen walking around John Day with Hilde, allowing anybody who wishes to come and meet the gentle giant. Camel sightings are rare in John Day — or anywhere else in Grant County, for that matter — leading to instant notoriety for both Hilde and the Elliottts.

“I told my wife we’d be small town famous real quick,” Talyn said.

Hilde has already found her place within the Elliott family in the short time she’s been in John Day. Talyn and Tabitha’s two children, ages 13 and 11, have already ridden Hilde and regularly brush and groom her.

Hilde could live as long as 50 years and have up to a dozen calves during her lifetime. Talyn said he hopes his story leads to the popularization of the humpbacked animals in the future.

“I’m hoping once people realize how cool they are, they become more popular,” he said.