Climate snapshot for alpacas
94/100Alpaca climate comfort score
62°FAverage high, Aug
28°FAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~113Frost nights per year
119 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
17Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Wet ground — 119 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: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 28°F | 12.9 in | 101 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 38°F | 29°F | 9.1 in | 103 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 41°F | 30°F | 9.3 in | 110 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 47°F | 35°F | 7.8 in | 115 · ok | — |
| May | 54°F | 41°F | 5.9 in | 128 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 59°F | 47°F | 4.7 in | 130 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 61°F | 50°F | 5.5 in | 144 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 62°F | 51°F | 8.4 in | 146 · ok | grass |
| Sep | 57°F | 46°F | 13.1 in | 140 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 48°F | 39°F | 14.9 in | 123 · ok | — |
| Nov | 41°F | 33°F | 13.9 in | 106 · ok | — |
| Dec | 37°F | 30°F | 13.6 in | 101 · 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 Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska
January 37° / 28°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 38° / 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).
March 41° / 30°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 47° / 35°F
May 54° / 41°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 59° / 47°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
July 61° / 50°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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 62° / 51°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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 57° / 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).
- Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 48° / 39°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 41° / 33°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).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 37° / 30°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–Sep (breed in Jul–Oct).
- 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: Dec–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 Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, 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 Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska scores 94/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are wet ground.
When should alpacas be shorn in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, 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 Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jun–Sep. For births then, breed females in Jul–Oct (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, 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 55.683, -133.162 · land area 5,268 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Alaska.