Climate snapshot for alpacas
86/100Alpaca climate comfort score
93°FAverage high, Jul
18°FAverage low, Jan
~56Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~149Frost nights per year
13 inAnnual precipitation
1Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Aug
- Dry climate — only 13 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 86/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 18°F | 0.4 in | 121 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 51°F | 21°F | 0.4 in | 120 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 61°F | 28°F | 0.8 in | 131 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 68°F | 36°F | 1.4 in | 126 · ok | grass |
| May | 78°F | 46°F | 1.6 in | 131 · caution | grass |
| Jun | 89°F | 56°F | 1.5 in | 133 · caution | grass |
| Jul | 93°F | 61°F | 2.3 in | 141 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 90°F | 60°F | 2.0 in | 144 · caution | grass |
| Sep | 83°F | 51°F | 0.9 in | 136 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 71°F | 37°F | 1.0 in | 122 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 57°F | 26°F | 0.6 in | 126 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 47°F | 18°F | 0.5 in | 115 · 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 Otero County, Colorado
January 48° / 18°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 51° / 21°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 61° / 28°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 68° / 36°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.
May 78° / 46°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.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 89° / 56°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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.
July 93° / 61°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 90° / 60°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 83° / 51°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° / 37°F
- Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 57° / 26°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 47° / 18°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: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May (breed in Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Jul — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 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 Otero 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 Otero County, Colorado?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Otero County, Colorado scores 86/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Otero County, Colorado?
Plan shearing for May, 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 Otero County, Colorado?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May. For births then, breed females in Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Otero County, Colorado?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Otero County, Colorado?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 56 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 37.884, -103.721 · land area 1,262 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Colorado.