Climate snapshot for alpacas
91/100Alpaca climate comfort score
83°FAverage high, Jul
9°FAverage low, Jan
~7Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~202Frost nights per year
13 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
20Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb
- Dry climate — only 13 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
- Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 91/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Warm-summer humid continental (Köppen Dfb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 9°F | 1.1 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 33°F | 12°F | 1.0 in | 117 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 44°F | 22°F | 1.1 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 53°F | 28°F | 1.2 in | 124 · ok | frost |
| May | 63°F | 37°F | 1.7 in | 132 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 72°F | 43°F | 1.3 in | 124 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 83°F | 50°F | 0.6 in | 125 · caution | — |
| Aug | 82°F | 49°F | 0.6 in | 125 · caution | — |
| Sep | 71°F | 40°F | 0.8 in | 123 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 56°F | 30°F | 1.0 in | 107 · ok | frost |
| Nov | 40°F | 19°F | 0.9 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 29°F | 10°F | 1.3 in | 108 · 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 Butte County, Idaho
January 29° / 9°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 33° / 12°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 44° / 22°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.
April 53° / 28°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 63° / 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 72° / 43°F
- 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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 20 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
July 83° / 50°F
- 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° / 49°F
- 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 71° / 40°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 56° / 30°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).
November 40° / 19°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 29° / 10°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: 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: Oct–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: May–Jun, Sep (about 3 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Butte County, Idaho 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 Butte County, Idaho?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Butte County, Idaho scores 91/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters, dry climate and low selenium.
When should alpacas be shorn in Butte County, Idaho?
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 Butte County, 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 Butte County, Idaho?
With roughly 9 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 967 lb (439 kg) — around 20 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 43.685, -113.178 · land area 2,236 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Idaho.