Climate snapshot for alpacas
88/100Alpaca climate comfort score
91°FAverage high, Jul
31°FAverage low, Dec
~40Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~70Frost nights per year
43 inAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Aug
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 88/100 — 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 | 50°F | 32°F | 7.2 in | 130 · ok | — |
| Feb | 53°F | 33°F | 6.9 in | 134 · ok | — |
| Mar | 57°F | 35°F | 6.4 in | 133 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 63°F | 38°F | 3.5 in | 135 · ok | grass |
| May | 73°F | 45°F | 2.4 in | 126 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 82°F | 52°F | 1.0 in | 118 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 91°F | 58°F | 0.1 in | 119 · ok | — |
| Aug | 90°F | 56°F | 0.2 in | 122 · caution | — |
| Sep | 84°F | 52°F | 0.5 in | 123 · caution | — |
| Oct | 71°F | 44°F | 2.3 in | 114 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 4.7 in | 120 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 48°F | 31°F | 8.0 in | 128 · 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 Shasta County, California
January 50° / 32°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 53° / 33°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 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).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 63° / 38°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.
May 73° / 45°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).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 82° / 52°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 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.
July 91° / 58°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 90° / 56°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 84° / 52°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 71° / 44°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 56° / 36°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 48° / 31°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: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May, Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov (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
No alpaca farms near Shasta 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 Shasta County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Shasta County, California scores 88/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Shasta County, California?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Shasta County, California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jun. For births then, breed females in May–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Shasta 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 Shasta County, California?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 40 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 40.761, -122.044 · land area 3,776 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.