Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Mint?

Mint (Mentha spp.) — a herb. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Mint (Mentha spp.)
Mint (Mentha spp.). Photo: Michael Becker, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Mentha spp.
Family
Lamiaceae
Plant type
Herb

Feeding notes

Safe in small amounts; strong flavor limits intake.

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

Mentha, also known as mint, is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is estimated that 18 to 24 species exist, but the exact distinction between species is unclear. Hybridization occurs naturally where some species' ranges overlap. Many hybrids and cultivars are known.From Wikipedia — “Mentha”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 1,513,550 recorded observations of Mentha L. worldwide, including 38,601 in the United States. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, together with Lemon Balm. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat mint?
Yes. Safe in small amounts; strong flavor limits intake.
How much mint 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 Q47859.