Climate snapshot for alpacas
81/100Alpaca climate comfort score
69°FAverage high, Jul
6°FAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~258Frost nights per year
24 inAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
18Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Nov–Mar
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 81/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Subarctic (Köppen Dfc).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 6°F | 2.1 in | 103 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 31°F | 7°F | 2.1 in | 100 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 39°F | 12°F | 2.4 in | 109 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 44°F | 19°F | 2.9 in | 102 · ok | frost |
| May | 53°F | 28°F | 2.1 in | 106 · ok | frost |
| Jun | 64°F | 36°F | 1.1 in | 108 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 69°F | 41°F | 2.0 in | 117 · ok | worms, grass |
| Aug | 66°F | 40°F | 2.1 in | 120 · ok | worms, grass |
| Sep | 60°F | 34°F | 1.7 in | 112 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 48°F | 24°F | 1.8 in | 100 · ok | frost |
| Nov | 37°F | 14°F | 1.9 in | 106 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 29°F | 6°F | 1.9 in | 97 · 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 Lake County, Colorado
January 29° / 6°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 31° / 7°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).
March 39° / 12°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 44° / 19°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 53° / 28°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 64° / 36°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.
- 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.
July 69° / 41°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 66° / 40°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).
September 60° / 34°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 18 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 48° / 24°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
November 37° / 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.
December 29° / 6°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).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: June.
- Best months for crias to be born: Jul–Aug (breed in Aug–Sep).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Jul–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Oct–May — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Jun–Sep (about 4 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallmark Ranch Alpacas · Salida | farm | 48 mi | Visit |
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 Lake County, Colorado?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Lake County, Colorado scores 81/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
When should alpacas be shorn in Lake 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 Lake County, Colorado?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jul–Aug. For births then, breed females in Aug–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Lake County, Colorado?
With roughly 8 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 900 lb (408 kg) — around 18 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 39.205, -106.350 · land area 377 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Colorado.