Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Pacific

Raising Alpacas in California

California has a hot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa): summer highs average 88°F in July and winter lows average 35°F in December, with about 28 inches of precipitation a year. It is a comparatively easy climate for alpacas.

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

Statewide snapshot

98/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
88°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
35°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~28Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~38Frost nights per year (state average)
28 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
1Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.045°1.560°3.075°4.590°6.1Jan: 5.3 inJanFeb: 4.9 inFebMar: 4.1 inMarApr: 2.1 inAprMay: 1.2 inMayJun: 0.4 inJunJul: 0.1 inJulAug: 0.1 inAugSep: 0.3 inSepOct: 1.4 inOctNov: 2.8 inNovDec: 5.2 inDecJan high: 54°FFeb high: 57°FMar high: 61°FApr high: 66°FMay high: 74°FJun high: 82°FJul high: 88°FAug high: 87°FSep high: 83°FOct high: 73°FNov high: 61°FDec high: 54°FJan low: 36°FFeb low: 37°FMar low: 39°FApr low: 42°FMay low: 48°FJun low: 53°FJul low: 58°FAug low: 58°FSep low: 54°FOct low: 47°FNov low: 40°FDec low: 35°F°Fin

Average of 58 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Alameda County — 100/100
  2. Alpine County — 100/100
  3. Lassen County — 100/100
  4. Marin County — 100/100
  5. Modoc County — 100/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Imperial County — 43/100
  2. Riverside County — 55/100
  3. San Bernardino County — 64/100
  4. Inyo County — 69/100
  5. Kings County — 69/100

All 58 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
Alameda County834012120Mar14100
Alpine County762201810Jun21100
Amador County913542382Mar1688
Butte County933657283Mar1387
Calaveras County913547381Mar1490
Colusa County953777242Mar1380
Contra Costa County864023121Mar1498
Del Norte County80353522May1490
El Dorado County863217702May1796
Fresno County893130680Apr1796
Glenn County933662300Mar1388
Humboldt County82375352Mar1490
Imperial County1074416930Mar2443
Inyo County973282500Mar2169
Kern County963579300Mar1874
Kings County983798180Mar1869
Lake County893634381Mar1690
Lassen County8521121700Jun20100
Los Angeles County904040141Mar1690
Madera County903236641Apr1790
Marin County7343080Mar13100
Mariposa County893132710Apr1792
Mendocino County843711341Mar1498
Merced County943873170Mar1679
Modoc County8522111710Jun20100
Mono County801732020Jun21100
Monterey County873726281Mar1498
Napa County893840221Mar1390
Nevada County853013902May1896
Orange County85461823Mar1795
Placer County863118752May1796
Plumas County832481561Jun2098
Riverside County1014112380Mar1855
Sacramento County943973161Mar1382
San Benito County893636300Mar1692
San Bernardino County10138115170Mar1864
San Diego County924054123Mar1687
San Francisco County7244050Mar13100
San Joaquin County933969161Mar1682
San Luis Obispo County883734271Mar1690
San Mateo County7542190Mar13100
Santa Barbara County833910190Mar16100
Santa Clara County843813190Mar14100
Santa Cruz County78402162Mar1396
Shasta County913140702Apr1688
Sierra County822451560Jun20100
Siskiyou County842791271May2098
Solano County903945152Mar1488
Sonoma County81405181Mar1398
Stanislaus County933865181Mar1686
Sutter County963988151Mar1377
Tehama County923551361Mar1690
Trinity County883124842May1890
Tulare County873021780Apr17100
Tuolumne County822761202May2096
Ventura County863716290Mar16100
Yolo County943878182Mar1380
Yuba County943864222Mar1388

Typical alpaca care calendar for California

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

January 54° / 36°F

Vitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 57° / 37°F

Cria seasonVitamin D
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 61° / 39°F

ShearingCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • 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.

April 66° / 42°F

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • 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 74° / 48°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).
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 82° / 53°F

Breeding
  • 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 88° / 58°F

  • 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 87° / 58°F

  • 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.

September 83° / 54°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 73° / 47°F

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

November 61° / 40°F

Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 54° / 35°F

Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations for California

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Feb–May (breed in Mar–Jun).
  • Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Winter: frost is rare.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: Jan–May, Oct–Nov (about 7 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 California

Laughing Alpaca Campground + RV Park
Alpaca Exotic Imports
Alpaca Fashion
Alpaca Headquarters
San Juan Bautista
Cusco Alpaca Peru
Mad Alpaca Games
Davis
Laughing Alpaca Campground + RV Park

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. California scores 98/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
Which part of California is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Alameda County, Alpine County and Lassen County; the most challenging are Imperial County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
When should alpacas be shorn in California?
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 California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Feb–May. For births then, breed females in Mar–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in California?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.

Neighboring states

OregonUtahArizonaColoradoNevadaWashington

See how these guides are calculated.