Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southwest

Raising Alpacas in Arizona

Arizona has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk): summer highs average 96°F in July and winter lows average 32°F in December, with about 12 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are heat & humidity and dry climate.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

77/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
96°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
32°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~90Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~53Frost nights per year (state average)
12 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
1Barber pole worm months (state average)
17Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.065°2.082°3.0100°4.0Jan: 1.2 inJanFeb: 1.2 inFebMar: 1.0 inMarApr: 0.4 inAprMay: 0.3 inMayJun: 0.2 inJunJul: 1.9 inJulAug: 2.1 inAugSep: 1.2 inSepOct: 0.8 inOctNov: 0.8 inNovDec: 1.1 inDecJan high: 58°FFeb high: 61°FMar high: 68°FApr high: 75°FMay high: 84°FJun high: 94°FJul high: 96°FAug high: 94°FSep high: 89°FOct high: 79°FNov high: 67°FDec high: 57°FJan low: 32°FFeb low: 35°FMar low: 39°FApr low: 44°FMay low: 52°FJun low: 61°FJul low: 68°FAug low: 67°FSep low: 61°FOct low: 49°FNov low: 39°FDec low: 32°F°Fin

Average of 15 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jul
  • Dry climate — only 12 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Apache County — 95/100
  2. Coconino County — 94/100
  3. Navajo County — 91/100
  4. Greenlee County — 88/100
  5. Yavapai County — 86/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Yuma County — 51/100
  2. La Paz County — 55/100
  3. Maricopa County — 55/100
  4. Pinal County — 55/100
  5. Pima County — 56/100

All 15 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Apache County8719221580May1895
Cochise County943177622Mar1784
Coconino County9022361321May1894
Gila County943171632Apr1484
Graham County933274532Mar1484
Greenlee County882835912Apr1688
La Paz County1064015780Mar2255
Maricopa County10440153100Mar1755
Mohave County983494390Mar1869
Navajo County9020351460May1891
Pima County10037135192Mar1656
Pinal County10238143150Mar1455
Santa Cruz County923260573Apr1283
Yavapai County943074691Apr1486
Yuma County1064116670Mar2451

Typical alpaca care calendar for Arizona

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 58° / 32°F

  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 61° / 35°F

  • 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.

March 68° / 39°F

ShearingCria season
  • 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.
  • Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 75° / 44°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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.

May 84° / 52°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 94° / 61°F

HeatBreeding
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

July 96° / 68°F

Danger heat
  • Dangerous heat: provide shade, fans and ground-level sprinklers or wading pools; check the herd twice daily and avoid all handling or transport in the afternoon.
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 94° / 67°F

HeatWorm season
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.

September 89° / 61°F

Heat
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 79° / 49°F

  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

November 67° / 39°F

  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 57° / 32°F

Frost
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.

Key recommendations for Arizona

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Mar–May (breed in Apr–Jun).
  • Heat precautions: Jun–Sep; dangerous heat in Jul.
  • Barber pole worm season: Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: Feb–Mar, Jul–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.

Alpaca farms & shops in Arizona

Desert Mirage Alpaca Ranch

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Arizona?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Arizona scores 77/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are heat & humidity and dry climate.
Which part of Arizona is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Apache County, Coconino County and Navajo County; the most challenging are Yuma County, La Paz County and Maricopa County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Arizona?
Plan shearing for March, 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 Arizona?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–May. For births then, breed females in Apr–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Arizona?
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.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Arizona?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Sep. We estimate about 90 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

New MexicoUtahCaliforniaColoradoKansasNevada

See how these guides are calculated.