Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · South Central

Raising Alpacas in Arkansas

Arkansas has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 91°F in July and winter lows average 30°F in January, with about 52 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

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

Statewide snapshot

61/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
91°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
30°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~51Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~51Frost nights per year (state average)
52 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
12Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.665°3.182°4.7100°6.3Jan: 3.8 inJanFeb: 4.0 inFebMar: 5.0 inMarApr: 5.4 inAprMay: 5.5 inMayJun: 3.9 inJunJul: 3.9 inJulAug: 3.6 inAugSep: 3.7 inSepOct: 4.3 inOctNov: 4.5 inNovDec: 4.8 inDecJan high: 50°FFeb high: 55°FMar high: 63°FApr high: 72°FMay high: 80°FJun high: 87°FJul high: 91°FAug high: 91°FSep high: 84°FOct high: 74°FNov high: 62°FDec high: 52°FJan low: 30°FFeb low: 34°FMar low: 41°FApr low: 49°FMay low: 58°FJun low: 67°FJul low: 70°FAug low: 69°FSep low: 61°FOct low: 50°FNov low: 40°FDec low: 33°F°Fin

Average of 75 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Apr–Oct)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 52 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Arkansas County — 61/100
  2. Baxter County — 61/100
  3. Benton County — 61/100
  4. Boone County — 61/100
  5. Carroll County — 61/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Ashley County — 52/100
  2. Bradley County — 52/100
  3. Calhoun County — 52/100
  4. Chicot County — 52/100
  5. Union County — 52/100

All 75 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
Arkansas County913356327Mar1061
Ashley County923470289Mar952
Baxter County902639817Apr1261
Benton County902636797Apr1261
Boone County892632837Apr1261
Bradley County923465339Mar952
Calhoun County923365389Mar952
Carroll County882631807Apr1261
Chicot County923569259Mar952
Clark County923264468Mar1054
Clay County902845647Mar1261
Cleburne County902942587Mar1261
Cleveland County923361378Mar954
Columbia County933467329Mar958
Conway County922957587Mar1261
Craighead County903048537Mar1261
Crawford County912849637Mar1261
Crittenden County913256397Mar1261
Cross County913252427Mar1261
Dallas County923262438Mar1054
Desha County913459298Mar960
Drew County923463308Mar960
Faulkner County923056527Mar1261
Franklin County912847637Mar1261
Fulton County902537847Apr1261
Garland County923154507Mar1255
Grant County923263428Mar1060
Greene County902945597Mar1261
Hempstead County923264398Mar960
Hot Spring County923160468Mar1054
Howard County923158488Mar1054
Independence County902943607Mar1261
Izard County902739757Apr1261
Jackson County903048527Mar1261
Jefferson County923359368Mar1060
Johnson County902840667Mar1261
Lafayette County933469309Mar958
Lawrence County902844637Mar1261
Lee County913356357Mar1061
Lincoln County913459328Mar960
Little River County933367359Mar958
Logan County922955587Mar1261
Lonoke County923257427Mar1061
Madison County882625797Apr1261
Marion County902539847Apr1261
Miller County933570289Mar958
Mississippi County903149477Mar1261
Monroe County913354347Mar1061
Montgomery County913049557Mar1255
Nevada County923265409Mar958
Newton County872624797Apr1261
Ouachita County923367399Mar958
Perry County923058517Mar1261
Phillips County913357327Mar1061
Pike County923157518Mar1054
Poinsett County913150487Mar1261
Polk County903043587Mar1255
Pope County912847657Mar1261
Prairie County913254387Mar1061
Pulaski County923160458Mar1060
Randolph County902743737Mar1261
Saline County923157467Mar1055
Scott County912949587Mar1261
Searcy County892632787Apr1261
Sebastian County922959577Mar1261
Sevier County923262448Mar1060
Sharp County902739757Apr1261
St. Francis County913253387Mar1261
Stone County892836697Mar1261
Union County933469339Mar952
Van Buren County902839677Mar1261
Washington County892733767Apr1261
White County913151487Mar1261
Woodruff County913251437Mar1261
Yell County923057547Mar1261

Typical alpaca care calendar for Arkansas

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

January 50° / 30°F

Frost
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 55° / 34°F

  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.

March 63° / 41°F

ShearingMeningeal wormCria season
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 72° / 49°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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).

May 80° / 58°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 87° / 67°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

July 91° / 70°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 91° / 69°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

September 84° / 61°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 74° / 50°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

November 62° / 40°F

Meningeal worm
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 52° / 33°F

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

Key recommendations for Arkansas

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Apr (breed in Apr–May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Jan — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: Mar–Nov (about 9 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (carried by white-tailed deer) is established in this region and is a leading cause of neurological disease in alpacas. Talk to your vet about a prevention plan for the snail season.
  • Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Arkansas

Alpaca Ranch Retirement Center

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Arkansas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Arkansas scores 61/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Arkansas is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Arkansas County, Baxter County and Benton County; the most challenging are Ashley County, Bradley County and Calhoun County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Arkansas?
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 Arkansas?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Apr. For births then, breed females in Apr–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Arkansas?
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 Arkansas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 51 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

KansasLouisianaMissouriTennesseeIowaKentucky

See how these guides are calculated.