Climate snapshot for alpacas
69/100Alpaca climate comfort score
97°FAverage high, Jul
32°FAverage low, Dec
~82Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~50Frost nights per year
6 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
21Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jul–Aug
- Dry climate — only 6 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 69/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold desert (Köppen BWk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 33°F | 1.1 in | 135 · ok | — |
| Feb | 57°F | 35°F | 1.2 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 64°F | 39°F | 0.8 in | 140 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 71°F | 44°F | 0.3 in | 143 · ok | — |
| May | 80°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 134 · caution | — |
| Jun | 91°F | 62°F | 0.1 in | 127 · caution | — |
| Jul | 97°F | 68°F | 0.3 in | 125 · caution | — |
| Aug | 95°F | 67°F | 0.2 in | 127 · caution | — |
| Sep | 88°F | 60°F | 0.2 in | 127 · caution | — |
| Oct | 76°F | 50°F | 0.4 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Nov | 63°F | 39°F | 0.4 in | 126 · ok | — |
| Dec | 53°F | 32°F | 0.8 in | 133 · 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 Inyo County, California
January 54° / 33°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 57° / 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.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 64° / 39°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.
- Secure winter hay: about 21 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 71° / 44°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.
May 80° / 53°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 91° / 62°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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 97° / 68°F
- Dangerous heat: provide shade, fans and ground-level sprinklers or wading pools; check the herd twice daily and avoid all handling or transport in the afternoon.
- 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 95° / 67°F
- Dangerous heat: provide shade, fans and ground-level sprinklers or wading pools; check the herd twice daily and avoid all handling or transport in the afternoon.
- 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 88° / 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.
October 76° / 50°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 63° / 39°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 53° / 32°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: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Mar–May (breed in Apr–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Sep; dangerous heat in Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Freezing nights: Dec — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Feb–Mar (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
No alpaca farms near Inyo 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 Inyo County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Inyo County, California scores 69/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are heat & humidity and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Inyo 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 Inyo County, California?
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 Inyo 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.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Inyo County, California?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Sep. We estimate about 82 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Coordinates 36.562, -117.404 · land area 10,197 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.