Climate snapshot for alpacas
92/100Alpaca climate comfort score
89°FAverage high, Jul
36°FAverage low, Dec
~36Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~30Frost nights per year
17 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
16Hay 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: 92/100 — 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 | 58°F | 37°F | 3.7 in | 139 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 59°F | 38°F | 3.4 in | 140 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 2.8 in | 139 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 68°F | 42°F | 1.2 in | 139 · ok | grass |
| May | 75°F | 48°F | 0.5 in | 129 · caution | — |
| Jun | 83°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 119 · ok | — |
| Jul | 89°F | 59°F | 0.0 in | 117 · ok | — |
| Aug | 89°F | 58°F | 0.0 in | 120 · caution | — |
| Sep | 85°F | 55°F | 0.1 in | 124 · caution | — |
| Oct | 76°F | 48°F | 0.8 in | 119 · ok | — |
| Nov | 65°F | 41°F | 1.6 in | 128 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 57°F | 36°F | 3.1 in | 137 · ok | grass |
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 San Benito County, California
January 58° / 37°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 59° / 38°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 63° / 40°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 68° / 42°F
- Secure winter hay: about 16 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.
May 75° / 48°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 83° / 53°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.
July 89° / 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 89° / 58°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- 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 85° / 55°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.
- 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° / 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.
November 65° / 41°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).
- 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.
December 57° / 36°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).
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Sep–Dec (breed in Oct–Jan).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Nov–Apr (about 6 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 Headquarters · San Juan Bautista | shop | 30 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 San Benito County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. San Benito County, California scores 92/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in San Benito 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 San Benito County, California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Sep–Dec. For births then, breed females in Oct–Jan (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in San Benito County, California?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in San Benito County, California?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 36 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 36.612, -121.086 · land area 1,389 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.