Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in Florida

Florida has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 92°F in July and winter lows average 46°F in January, with about 54 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

36/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
92°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
46°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~82Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~1Frost nights per year (state average)
54 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
12Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
40°0.055°2.270°4.385°6.5100°8.7Jan: 3.4 inJanFeb: 3.0 inFebMar: 3.6 inMarApr: 3.1 inAprMay: 3.5 inMayJun: 7.5 inJunJul: 7.2 inJulAug: 7.5 inAugSep: 6.4 inSepOct: 3.5 inOctNov: 2.5 inNovDec: 3.0 inDecJan high: 69°FFeb high: 72°FMar high: 76°FApr high: 82°FMay high: 87°FJun high: 90°FJul high: 92°FAug high: 91°FSep high: 89°FOct high: 83°FNov high: 76°FDec high: 71°FJan low: 46°FFeb low: 49°FMar low: 53°FApr low: 58°FMay low: 65°FJun low: 71°FJul low: 73°FAug low: 73°FSep low: 71°FOct low: 63°FNov low: 54°FDec low: 49°F°Fin

Average of 67 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Mar–Nov
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (year-round)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 54 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Jefferson County — 50/100
  2. Duval County — 48/100
  3. Escambia County — 46/100
  4. Holmes County — 46/100
  5. Jackson County — 46/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Broward County — 18/100
  2. Palm Beach County — 18/100
  3. Miami-Dade County — 20/100
  4. Martin County — 22/100
  5. Okeechobee County — 28/100

All 67 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Alachua County924385411Mar838
Baker County924181611Mar842
Bay County904263411Mar844
Bradford County924282412Mar840
Brevard County905270012Mar836
Broward County9256105012Mar818
Calhoun County924074811Mar844
Charlotte County9251106010Mar832
Citrus County914684111Mar838
Clay County924478312Mar840
Collier County935411709Mar830
Columbia County924181612Mar840
DeSoto County9250104010Mar832
Dixie County914277411Mar840
Duval County924470312Mar848
Escambia County914166710Mar846
Flagler County914773112Mar836
Franklin County914269511Mar844
Gadsden County924076911Mar844
Gilchrist County924282511Mar842
Glades County9252106010Mar832
Gulf County904263511Mar844
Hamilton County924078812Mar844
Hardee County9249102011Mar830
Hendry County925311309Mar830
Hernando County914782111Mar838
Highlands County9250103011Mar830
Hillsborough County915086011Mar838
Holmes County9239761110Mar846
Indian River County905177012Mar832
Jackson County924078910Mar846
Jefferson County924174711Mar850
Lafayette County924179712Mar838
Lake County924790111Mar838
Lee County925310509Mar830
Leon County924079811Mar840
Levy County914480211Mar838
Liberty County924075811Mar840
Madison County924074811Mar846
Manatee County925093011Mar834
Marion County924589212Mar836
Martin County915486012Mar822
Miami-Dade County9258103011Mar820
Monroe County925810308Mar832
Nassau County924274512Mar844
Okaloosa County914068910Mar846
Okeechobee County925193012Mar828
Orange County924991011Mar838
Osceola County925093011Mar834
Palm Beach County925598012Mar818
Pasco County914883111Mar838
Pinellas County905277011Mar838
Polk County924999011Mar834
Putnam County924581212Mar836
Santa Rosa County914067810Mar846
Sarasota County925199011Mar830
Seminole County924989012Mar836
St. Johns County914666112Mar844
St. Lucie County915380012Mar828
Sumter County924690111Mar838
Suwannee County924180712Mar844
Taylor County914175612Mar838
Union County924282511Mar842
Volusia County924879112Mar836
Wakulla County924178611Mar844
Walton County914067910Mar846
Washington County924075911Mar844

Typical alpaca care calendar for Florida

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 69° / 46°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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.

February 72° / 49°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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).

March 76° / 53°F

ShearingHeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 82° / 58°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

May 87° / 65°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 90° / 71°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

July 92° / 73°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 91° / 73°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

September 89° / 71°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 83° / 63°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

November 76° / 54°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 71° / 49°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.

Key recommendations for Florida

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Dec–Feb (breed in Jan–Mar).
  • Heat precautions: Mar–Nov.
  • Barber pole worm season: year-round — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Winter: frost is rare.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: year-round (about 12 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (carried by white-tailed deer) is established in this region and is a leading cause of neurological disease in alpacas. Talk to your vet about a prevention plan for the snail season.
  • Selenium: Soils and hay in this state are often selenium-deficient. Use a camelid mineral formulated for low-selenium areas and blood-test a few animals each year.

Alpaca farms & shops in Florida

Alpaca Warehouse
GainesvilleWebsite
Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch
OdessaWebsite
Alpaca Magic

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Florida?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Florida scores 36/100 (challenging) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Florida is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Jefferson County, Duval County and Escambia County; the most challenging are Broward County, Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Florida?
Plan shearing for March, 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 Florida?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Dec–Feb. For births then, breed females in Jan–Mar (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Florida?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Florida?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Mar–Nov. We estimate about 82 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

District of ColumbiaGeorgiaAlabamaMarylandSouth CarolinaDelaware

See how these guides are calculated.