Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Alder?

Alder (Alnus spp.) — a tree. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — alder is safe for alpacas.

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Alder (Alnus spp.)
Alder (Alnus spp.). Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Alnus spp.
Family
Betulaceae
Plant type
Tree

Feeding notes

Safe browse along wet pasture edges.

How to offer it

  1. Introduce any new forage or browse gradually over a week or two.
  2. Make sure it is fresh — avoid moldy, wilted piles or plants sprayed with herbicide.
  3. Keep a balanced diet: grass or hay first, with a camelid mineral available.

About the plant

Alders are trees of the genus Alnus in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species extending into Central America, as well as the northern and southern Andes.From Wikipedia — “Alder”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 1,668,966 recorded observations of Alnus Mill. worldwide, including 57,200 in the United States. It belongs to the Betulaceae family, together with Hazel. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat alder?
Yes. Safe browse along wet pasture edges.
How much alder can an alpaca eat?
As part of a varied diet based on grass or grass hay, it can be eaten freely. Introduce new browse gradually.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q25239.