Climate snapshot for alpacas
100/100Alpaca climate comfort score
76°FAverage high, Jul
22°FAverage low, Feb
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~181Frost nights per year
36 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
21Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 100/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Mediterranean-influenced warm-summer continental (Köppen Dsb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 23°F | 6.2 in | 122 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 42°F | 22°F | 5.8 in | 122 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 46°F | 25°F | 5.2 in | 122 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 50°F | 28°F | 2.8 in | 122 · ok | frost |
| May | 58°F | 35°F | 2.0 in | 111 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 67°F | 42°F | 0.8 in | 103 · ok | — |
| Jul | 76°F | 49°F | 0.5 in | 104 · ok | — |
| Aug | 75°F | 48°F | 0.4 in | 107 · ok | — |
| Sep | 69°F | 43°F | 0.6 in | 107 · ok | — |
| Oct | 58°F | 35°F | 2.1 in | 100 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 47°F | 27°F | 3.5 in | 110 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 6.1 in | 120 · ok | 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 Alpine County, California
January 41° / 23°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 42° / 22°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 46° / 25°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 50° / 28°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 58° / 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.
- Secure winter hay: about 21 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 67° / 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.
July 76° / 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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 75° / 48°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.
September 69° / 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 58° / 35°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 47° / 27°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 40° / 22°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: June.
- Best months for crias to be born: Jun–Sep (breed in Jul–Oct).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: May, Oct (about 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaca Exotic Imports | shop | 24 mi | — |
| Cusco Alpaca Peru | shop | 27 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 Alpine County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Alpine County, California scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Alpine County, California?
Plan shearing for June, 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 Alpine County, California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jun–Sep. For births then, breed females in Jul–Oct (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Alpine County, California?
With roughly 10 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 1,034 lb (469 kg) — around 21 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 38.622, -119.798 · land area 738 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.