Climate snapshot for alpacas
100/100Alpaca climate comfort score
82°FAverage high, Jul
24°FAverage low, Dec
~5Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~156Frost nights per year
46 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
20Hay 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: Warm-summer Mediterranean (Köppen Csb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 24°F | 7.9 in | 124 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 45°F | 25°F | 7.4 in | 126 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 6.8 in | 125 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 55°F | 31°F | 3.7 in | 126 · ok | frost |
| May | 63°F | 37°F | 2.5 in | 117 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 73°F | 43°F | 0.9 in | 109 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 82°F | 50°F | 0.2 in | 110 · ok | — |
| Aug | 81°F | 48°F | 0.3 in | 113 · ok | — |
| Sep | 75°F | 44°F | 0.6 in | 114 · ok | — |
| Oct | 64°F | 36°F | 2.6 in | 106 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 50°F | 29°F | 4.7 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 8.4 in | 122 · 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 Sierra County, California
January 44° / 24°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 45° / 25°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 50° / 28°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 55° / 31°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.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 63° / 37°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 73° / 43°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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 20 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
July 82° / 50°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).
- 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 81° / 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).
- 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 75° / 44°F
- 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 64° / 36°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 50° / 29°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 42° / 24°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: May–Aug (breed in Jun–Sep).
- 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–Jun, Oct (about 3 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 Sierra 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 Sierra County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Sierra County, California scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Sierra 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 Sierra County, California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jun–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Sierra County, California?
With roughly 9 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 967 lb (439 kg) — around 20 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 39.577, -120.522 · land area 953 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.