Statewide snapshot
82/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
60°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
8°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~226Frost nights per year (state average)
75 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
0Barber pole worm months (state average)
20Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 30 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.
Statewide challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Mar
- Wet ground — 75 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
Most alpaca-friendly counties
- Aleutians East Borough — 100/100
- Aleutians West Census Area — 94/100
- Hoonah-Angoon Census Area — 94/100
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough — 94/100
- Kodiak Island Borough — 94/100
Most challenging counties
- North Slope Borough — 74/100
- Fairbanks North Star Borough — 81/100
- Anchorage Municipality — 82/100
- Nome Census Area — 82/100
- Northwest Arctic Borough — 82/100
All 30 counties
Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.
Typical alpaca care calendar for Alaska
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 20° / 8°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 24° / 11°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 28° / 13°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 39° / 23°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 50° / 33°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 57° / 42°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
July 60° / 46°F
- 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.
August 58° / 44°F
- 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).
- Secure winter hay: about 20 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
September 50° / 37°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 38° / 27°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 27° / 16°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 22° / 11°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations for Alaska
- Shearing: June.
- Best months for crias to be born: Jun–Aug (breed in Jul–Sep).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Freezing nights: Oct–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: Jun–Aug (about 3 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
- Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.
Alpaca farms & shops in Alaska
No alpaca farms in Alaska are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Alaska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Alaska scores 82/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters and wet ground.
Which part of Alaska is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Aleutians East Borough, Aleutians West Census Area and Hoonah-Angoon Census Area; the most challenging are North Slope Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Anchorage Municipality.
When should alpacas be shorn in Alaska?
Plan shearing for June, 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 Alaska?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jun–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jul–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Alaska?
With roughly 9 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 967 lb (439 kg) — around 20 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.