Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in Alabama

Alabama has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 91°F in July and winter lows average 34°F in January, with about 56 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

52/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
91°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
34°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~56Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~30Frost nights per year (state average)
56 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
9Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.665°3.182°4.7100°6.3Jan: 5.3 inJanFeb: 5.2 inFebMar: 5.4 inMarApr: 4.9 inAprMay: 4.2 inMayJun: 4.8 inJunJul: 5.1 inJulAug: 4.5 inAugSep: 4.0 inSepOct: 3.5 inOctNov: 4.3 inNovDec: 5.5 inDecJan high: 56°FFeb high: 60°FMar high: 68°FApr high: 76°FMay high: 83°FJun high: 88°FJul high: 91°FAug high: 90°FSep high: 86°FOct high: 76°FNov high: 66°FDec high: 58°FJan low: 34°FFeb low: 38°FMar low: 44°FApr low: 50°FMay low: 59°FJun low: 67°FJul low: 70°FAug low: 69°FSep low: 63°FOct low: 52°FNov low: 41°FDec low: 37°F°Fin

Average of 67 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Mar–Nov)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 57 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Calhoun County — 60/100
  2. Cherokee County — 60/100
  3. Autauga County — 58/100
  4. Barbour County — 58/100
  5. Bullock County — 58/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Baldwin County — 50/100
  2. Covington County — 50/100
  3. Dale County — 50/100
  4. Escambia County — 50/100
  5. Geneva County — 50/100

All 67 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Autauga County923566259Mar858
Baldwin County914167710Mar850
Barbour County913764189Mar858
Bibb County913458339Mar952
Blount County903244418Mar1054
Bullock County913661229Mar858
Butler County913664229Mar852
Calhoun County903247418Mar960
Chambers County903349409Mar958
Cherokee County903245448Mar1060
Chilton County913458339Mar952
Choctaw County923667229Mar852
Clarke County913767189Mar852
Clay County893241448Mar954
Cleburne County883237478Mar1054
Coffee County913767179Mar852
Colbert County903048558Mar1254
Conecuh County913766179Mar852
Coosa County913354369Mar952
Covington County9237691810Mar850
Crenshaw County913564249Mar852
Cullman County893144478Mar1054
Dale County9138671410Mar850
Dallas County923666219Mar858
DeKalb County873129487Mar1255
Elmore County923565279Mar858
Escambia County9238701410Mar850
Etowah County903246408Mar954
Fayette County913254398Mar954
Franklin County903044538Mar1254
Geneva County9238731410Mar850
Greene County923564289Mar858
Hale County913562279Mar858
Henry County9238671310Mar856
Houston County9239731110Mar850
Jackson County883133507Mar1255
Jefferson County913355369Mar952
Lamar County913256398Mar954
Lauderdale County903045587Mar1255
Lawrence County903044547Mar1255
Lee County913555289Mar858
Limestone County903045537Mar1255
Lowndes County923669229Mar858
Macon County923563249Mar858
Madison County893143507Mar1255
Marengo County923667239Mar858
Marion County903147498Mar1054
Marshall County893239427Mar1055
Mobile County914067810Mar850
Monroe County913866169Mar852
Montgomery County923670229Mar858
Morgan County903144497Mar1255
Perry County913561279Mar858
Pickens County923461329Mar952
Pike County913661209Mar852
Randolph County893242469Mar952
Russell County923664229Mar858
Shelby County913356379Mar952
St. Clair County903250408Mar954
Sumter County923566279Mar858
Talladega County913353409Mar952
Tallapoosa County913354389Mar958
Tuscaloosa County913459319Mar952
Walker County913253428Mar954
Washington County9238701610Mar850
Wilcox County923767199Mar858
Winston County893042538Mar1054

Typical alpaca care calendar for Alabama

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 56° / 34°F

Meningeal worm
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 60° / 38°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.

March 68° / 44°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 76° / 50°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).

May 83° / 59°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 88° / 67°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

July 91° / 70°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 90° / 69°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

September 86° / 63°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 76° / 52°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

November 66° / 41°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 58° / 37°F

Meningeal worm
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

Key recommendations for Alabama

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Mar–Nov — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Winter: frost is rare.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: year-round (about 12 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (carried by white-tailed deer) is established in this region and is a leading cause of neurological disease in alpacas. Talk to your vet about a prevention plan for the snail season.
  • Selenium: Soils and hay in this state are often selenium-deficient. Use a camelid mineral formulated for low-selenium areas and blood-test a few animals each year.

Alpaca farms & shops in Alabama

No alpaca farms in Alabama are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Alabama?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Alabama scores 52/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Alabama is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Calhoun County, Cherokee County and Autauga County; the most challenging are Baldwin County, Covington County and Dale County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Alabama?
Plan shearing for March, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Alabama?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Feb–Apr. For births then, breed females in Mar–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Alabama?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Alabama?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 56 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

GeorgiaMississippiNorth CarolinaLouisianaSouth CarolinaTennessee

See how these guides are calculated.