Climate snapshot for alpacas
74/100Alpaca climate comfort score
59°FAverage high, Jul
-18°FAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~275Frost nights per year
12 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
21Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Oct–Apr
- Dry climate — only 12 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 74/100 — Good 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 | -4°F | -18°F | 0.5 in | 60 · ok | frost |
| Feb | -3°F | -17°F | 0.5 in | 62 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 1°F | -15°F | 0.4 in | 70 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 17°F | 0°F | 0.4 in | 85 · ok | frost |
| May | 35°F | 22°F | 0.6 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| Jun | 53°F | 38°F | 1.2 in | 125 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 59°F | 43°F | 2.2 in | 142 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 51°F | 38°F | 2.2 in | 135 · ok | — |
| Sep | 40°F | 28°F | 1.3 in | 123 · ok | frost |
| Oct | 22°F | 12°F | 1.0 in | 97 · ok | frost |
| Nov | 8°F | -5°F | 0.8 in | 74 · ok | frost |
| Dec | -2°F | -14°F | 0.5 in | 61 · 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 North Slope Borough, Alaska
January -4° / -18°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 -3° / -17°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 1° / -15°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 17° / 0°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
May 35° / 22°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 53° / 38°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.
July 59° / 43°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Secure winter hay: about 21 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 51° / 38°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.
September 40° / 28°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 22° / 12°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).
November 8° / -5°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 -2° / -14°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: Jul (breed in Aug).
- 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: Sep–May — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: Jun–Jul (about 2 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 North Slope 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 North Slope Borough, Alaska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. North Slope Borough, Alaska scores 74/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in North Slope 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 North Slope Borough, Alaska?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jul. For births then, breed females in Aug (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in North Slope Borough, Alaska?
With roughly 10 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 1,034 lb (469 kg) — around 21 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Coordinates 69.449, -153.473 · land area 88,824 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Alaska.