Climate snapshot for alpacas
85/100Alpaca climate comfort score
60°FAverage high, Jul
2°FAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~251Frost nights per year
35 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
20Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Nov–Mar
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 85/100 — 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 | 16°F | 2°F | 2.1 in | 80 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 22°F | 6°F | 2.0 in | 87 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 27°F | 7°F | 1.6 in | 96 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 37°F | 19°F | 1.5 in | 106 · ok | frost |
| May | 49°F | 30°F | 1.9 in | 123 · ok | frost |
| Jun | 58°F | 40°F | 2.5 in | 129 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 60°F | 44°F | 3.8 in | 142 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 57°F | 41°F | 5.1 in | 140 · ok | grass |
| Sep | 47°F | 33°F | 5.2 in | 131 · ok | — |
| Oct | 34°F | 21°F | 3.5 in | 109 · ok | frost |
| Nov | 22°F | 9°F | 2.8 in | 88 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 19°F | 6°F | 2.6 in | 82 · 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
January 16° / 2°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 22° / 6°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 27° / 7°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 37° / 19°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 49° / 30°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 58° / 40°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° / 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).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 57° / 41°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 47° / 33°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 34° / 21°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 22° / 9°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.
December 19° / 6°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
- 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–May — 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Matanuska-Susitna 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska scores 85/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
When should alpacas be shorn in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 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 Matanuska-Susitna 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 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.
Coordinates 62.266, -149.504 · land area 24,707 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Alaska.