Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mountain West

Raising Alpacas in Idaho

Idaho has a mediterranean-influenced warm-summer continental climate (Köppen Dsb): summer highs average 83°F in July and winter lows average 18°F in December, with about 22 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are low selenium.

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

Statewide snapshot

100/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
83°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
18°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~8Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~178Frost nights per year (state average)
22 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
0Barber pole worm months (state average)
18Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.050°2.070°3.090°4.0Jan: 2.6 inJanFeb: 2.0 inFebMar: 2.2 inMarApr: 2.0 inAprMay: 2.2 inMayJun: 1.6 inJunJul: 0.7 inJulAug: 0.7 inAugSep: 1.0 inSepOct: 1.7 inOctNov: 2.3 inNovDec: 2.8 inDecJan high: 33°FFeb high: 38°FMar high: 47°FApr high: 54°FMay high: 64°FJun high: 73°FJul high: 83°FAug high: 82°FSep high: 72°FOct high: 57°FNov high: 42°FDec high: 33°FJan low: 18°FFeb low: 20°FMar low: 26°FApr low: 31°FMay low: 39°FJun low: 45°FJul low: 52°FAug low: 50°FSep low: 43°FOct low: 33°FNov low: 24°FDec low: 18°F°Fin

Average of 44 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Bannock County — 100/100
  2. Boise County — 100/100
  3. Boundary County — 100/100
  4. Elmore County — 100/100
  5. Franklin County — 100/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Jefferson County — 86/100
  2. Canyon County — 87/100
  3. Gooding County — 87/100
  4. Fremont County — 89/100
  5. Lemhi County — 89/100

All 44 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
Ada County9224391210May1892
Adams County821851801Jun2098
Bannock County8517101750May17100
Bear Lake County801132120Jun1891
Benewah County812441481May1698
Bingham County8514121820May1894
Blaine County821351980Jun2094
Boise County821751870Jun20100
Bonner County782221671May1798
Bonneville County811431950Jun1794
Boundary County741901800Jun17100
Butte County83972020Jun2091
Camas County791422000Jun2094
Canyon County9324441260May2087
Caribou County811442000Jun1794
Cassia County8519121691May1898
Clark County801122080Jun1791
Clearwater County792221701Jun1798
Custer County771012310Jun2091
Elmore County8720161610May20100
Franklin County841591800May17100
Fremont County791022131Jun1789
Gem County8922271410May1896
Gooding County9020281510May2087
Idaho County791722011Jun1798
Jefferson County8710161940May2086
Jerome County8921261510May2091
Kootenai County802431451May1798
Latah County832471462May1896
Lemhi County781212161Jun1789
Lewis County822251571May1798
Lincoln County8817221700May2091
Madison County821361900Jun1894
Minidoka County8817221740May2191
Nez Perce County8625151262May1796
Oneida County8617141691May1798
Owyhee County8820201630May20100
Payette County9223401250May1892
Power County8617141750May18100
Shoshone County772211701Jun1798
Teton County781112121Jun1789
Twin Falls County8720181600May18100
Valley County781312321Jun2089
Washington County8821201441May1898

Typical alpaca care calendar for Idaho

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

January 33° / 18°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 38° / 20°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 47° / 26°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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.

April 54° / 31°F

Frost
  • 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 64° / 39°F

ShearingCria season
  • 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.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 73° / 45°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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 18 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

July 83° / 52°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 82° / 50°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • 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.

September 72° / 43°F

Breeding
  • 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 57° / 33°F

Vitamin D
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

November 42° / 24°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 33° / 18°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 for Idaho

  • Shearing: May.
  • 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: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: May–Jun, Sep–Oct (about 4 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
  • 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 Idaho

Alpaca inn

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Idaho?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Idaho scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are low selenium.
Which part of Idaho is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Bannock County, Boise County and Boundary County; the most challenging are Jefferson County, Canyon County and Gooding County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Idaho?
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 Idaho?
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 Idaho?
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.

Neighboring states

MontanaNevadaWashingtonNorth DakotaOregonUtah

See how these guides are calculated.