Climate snapshot for alpacas
94/100Alpaca climate comfort score
60°FAverage high, Aug
24°FAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~151Frost nights per year
162 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
17Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Wet ground — 162 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 94/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Subarctic (Köppen Dfc).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 24°F | 17.4 in | 98 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 35°F | 24°F | 11.7 in | 100 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 38°F | 27°F | 11.9 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 45°F | 33°F | 10.4 in | 114 · ok | — |
| May | 54°F | 40°F | 8.6 in | 127 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 58°F | 46°F | 6.8 in | 129 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 60°F | 49°F | 8.1 in | 142 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 60°F | 49°F | 12.6 in | 144 · ok | grass |
| Sep | 55°F | 45°F | 18.0 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 46°F | 36°F | 20.3 in | 120 · ok | — |
| Nov | 37°F | 29°F | 17.7 in | 103 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 34°F | 25°F | 18.3 in | 97 · ok | frost |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska
January 34° / 24°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.
February 35° / 24°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).
March 38° / 27°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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.
April 45° / 33°F
May 54° / 40°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 58° / 46°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
July 60° / 49°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 60° / 49°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).
September 55° / 45°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 46° / 36°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 37° / 29°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 34° / 25°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).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: May.
- 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: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: May–Sep (about 5 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska scores 94/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are wet ground.
When should alpacas be shorn in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska?
Plan shearing for May, 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough, 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska?
With roughly 7 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 833 lb (378 kg) — around 17 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 55.450, -131.107 · land area 4,857 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Alaska.