Climate snapshot for alpacas
90/100Alpaca climate comfort score
91°FAverage high, Jul
35°FAverage low, Dec
~47Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~38Frost nights per year
35 inAnnual precipitation
1Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Aug
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 90/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot-summer Mediterranean (Köppen Csa).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 36°F | 6.5 in | 135 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 57°F | 37°F | 6.0 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 61°F | 39°F | 5.5 in | 137 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 3.0 in | 138 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 75°F | 48°F | 1.9 in | 128 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 84°F | 54°F | 0.5 in | 120 · caution | — |
| Jul | 91°F | 60°F | 0.0 in | 120 · caution | — |
| Aug | 91°F | 59°F | 0.0 in | 122 · caution | — |
| Sep | 86°F | 55°F | 0.3 in | 124 · caution | — |
| Oct | 75°F | 48°F | 1.8 in | 117 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 62°F | 40°F | 3.6 in | 125 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 53°F | 35°F | 6.1 in | 133 · ok | — |
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 Calaveras County, California
January 54° / 36°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.
- 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 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
- 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
- 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 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).
- 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 84° / 54°F
- 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).
- 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 91° / 60°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.
August 91° / 59°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.
September 86° / 55°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 75° / 48°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 62° / 40°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 53° / 35°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Feb–May (breed in Mar–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Calaveras County, California 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 Calaveras County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Calaveras County, California scores 90/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Calaveras County, 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 Calaveras County, 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 Calaveras County, 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.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Calaveras County, California?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 47 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 38.191, -120.554 · land area 1,020 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.