Climate snapshot for alpacas
55/100Alpaca climate comfort score
104°FAverage high, Jul
40°FAverage low, Dec
~153Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~10Frost nights per year
9 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
17Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jun–Sep
- Dry climate — only 9 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 55/100 — Fair on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot desert (Köppen BWh).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°F | 41°F | 1.1 in | 128 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 70°F | 43°F | 1.2 in | 133 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 76°F | 48°F | 0.9 in | 136 · caution | grass |
| Apr | 84°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 121 · caution | — |
| May | 92°F | 61°F | 0.1 in | 112 · ok | — |
| Jun | 102°F | 70°F | 0.1 in | 128 · caution | — |
| Jul | 104°F | 78°F | 0.9 in | 135 · caution | — |
| Aug | 103°F | 77°F | 1.3 in | 146 · caution | grass |
| Sep | 98°F | 71°F | 0.8 in | 126 · caution | — |
| Oct | 87°F | 59°F | 0.5 in | 120 · caution | — |
| Nov | 75°F | 47°F | 0.6 in | 115 · ok | — |
| Dec | 65°F | 40°F | 1.0 in | 97 · ok | grass |
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 Maricopa County, Arizona
January 66° / 41°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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.
February 70° / 43°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.
March 76° / 48°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
April 84° / 53°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
May 92° / 61°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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 102° / 70°F
- 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.
- 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 104° / 78°F
- 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.
- 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.
August 103° / 77°F
- 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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 98° / 71°F
- 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.
- 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.
October 87° / 59°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- 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.
November 75° / 47°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 65° / 40°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).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Nov–Feb (breed in Dec–Mar).
- Heat precautions: May–Sep; dangerous heat in Jun–Sep.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Dec–Mar, Aug (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
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 80 km (50 miles). Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Mirage Alpaca Ranch | farm | 26 mi | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Maricopa County, Arizona?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Maricopa County, Arizona scores 55/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are heat & humidity and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Maricopa County, 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 Maricopa County, Arizona?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Nov–Feb. For births then, breed females in Dec–Mar (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Maricopa County, 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 Maricopa County, Arizona?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 153 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Coordinates 33.345, -112.499 · land area 9,202 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Arizona.