Climate snapshot for alpacas
83/100Alpaca climate comfort score
92°FAverage high, Jun
32°FAverage low, Dec
~60Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~57Frost nights per year
18 inAnnual precipitation
3Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Aug
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 83/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 32°F | 1.2 in | 123 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 63°F | 34°F | 1.2 in | 127 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 69°F | 38°F | 0.9 in | 129 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 75°F | 42°F | 0.4 in | 113 · ok | — |
| May | 84°F | 49°F | 0.2 in | 103 · ok | — |
| Jun | 92°F | 59°F | 0.5 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Jul | 90°F | 65°F | 4.1 in | 121 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 88°F | 63°F | 3.9 in | 132 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 86°F | 58°F | 2.1 in | 114 · ok | worms, grass |
| Oct | 79°F | 48°F | 0.8 in | 112 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 69°F | 38°F | 0.8 in | 109 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 60°F | 32°F | 1.4 in | 93 · ok | grass, 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 Santa Cruz County, Arizona
January 61° / 32°F
- Toenail check and trim.
February 63° / 34°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
March 69° / 38°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 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 75° / 42°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.
- 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° / 49°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).
- 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 92° / 59°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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.
July 90° / 65°F
- 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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 88° / 63°F
- 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 86° / 58°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 79° / 48°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 69° / 38°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 60° / 32°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Mar–May (breed in Apr–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Jul–Sep — 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: Jul–Mar (about 9 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 Santa Cruz County, Arizona 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 Santa Cruz County, Arizona?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Santa Cruz County, Arizona scores 83/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Santa Cruz County, Arizona?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Santa Cruz County, 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 Santa Cruz County, Arizona?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Santa Cruz County, Arizona?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 60 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 31.526, -110.845 · land area 1,236 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Arizona.