Climate snapshot for alpacas
92/100Alpaca climate comfort score
81°FAverage high, Jul
14°FAverage low, Jan
~3Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~187Frost nights per year
22 inAnnual precipitation
3Barber pole worm months
17Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 92/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Mediterranean-influenced warm-summer continental (Köppen Dsb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 14°F | 2.1 in | 112 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 42°F | 17°F | 2.0 in | 110 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 50°F | 24°F | 1.7 in | 120 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 56°F | 29°F | 1.4 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| May | 66°F | 37°F | 1.4 in | 118 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 77°F | 45°F | 0.7 in | 120 · caution | — |
| Jul | 81°F | 52°F | 2.0 in | 129 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 78°F | 50°F | 2.5 in | 132 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 71°F | 44°F | 2.3 in | 124 · ok | worms, grass |
| Oct | 60°F | 33°F | 1.9 in | 112 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 48°F | 23°F | 1.7 in | 117 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 38°F | 15°F | 1.9 in | 106 · 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 La Plata County, Colorado
January 38° / 14°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 42° / 17°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° / 24°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 56° / 29°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 66° / 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.
- Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 77° / 45°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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).
July 81° / 52°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
August 78° / 50°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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).
September 71° / 44°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
October 60° / 33°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 48° / 23°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 38° / 15°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 season: Jul–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: May, Jul–Oct (about 5 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is uncommon this far west but cases occur near the edge of its range.
- Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near La Plata County, Colorado 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 La Plata County, Colorado?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. La Plata County, Colorado scores 92/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
When should alpacas be shorn in La Plata County, Colorado?
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 La Plata County, Colorado?
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 La Plata County, Colorado?
With roughly 7 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 833 lb (378 kg) — around 17 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 37.287, -107.840 · land area 1,690 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Colorado.