Climate snapshot for alpacas
89/100Alpaca climate comfort score
78°FAverage high, Jul
13°FAverage low, Dec
~1Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~232Frost nights per year
35 inAnnual precipitation
1Barber pole worm months
20Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb
- 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: 89/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Mediterranean-influenced warm-summer continental (Köppen Dsb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 13°F | 4.5 in | 117 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 36°F | 14°F | 3.6 in | 120 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 43°F | 19°F | 4.1 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 49°F | 24°F | 3.1 in | 121 · ok | frost |
| May | 59°F | 32°F | 2.8 in | 128 · ok | grass, frost |
| Jun | 67°F | 38°F | 2.2 in | 119 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jul | 78°F | 44°F | 0.8 in | 120 · caution | — |
| Aug | 78°F | 42°F | 0.7 in | 121 · caution | — |
| Sep | 68°F | 36°F | 1.3 in | 120 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 53°F | 28°F | 2.5 in | 104 · ok | frost |
| Nov | 38°F | 20°F | 4.0 in | 116 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 30°F | 13°F | 5.3 in | 110 · 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 Valley County, Idaho
January 32° / 13°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 36° / 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).
March 43° / 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.
April 49° / 24°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 59° / 32°F
- 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.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 67° / 38°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- 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.
- Secure winter hay: about 20 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
July 78° / 44°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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 78° / 42°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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 68° / 36°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 53° / 28°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 38° / 20°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 30° / 13°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: Jun–Aug (breed in Jul–Sep).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Jun — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Oct–May — 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 Valley 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 Valley County, Idaho?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Valley County, Idaho scores 89/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters and low selenium.
When should alpacas be shorn in Valley 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 Valley County, Idaho?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jun–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jul–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Valley 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 44.856, -115.618 · land area 3,665 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Idaho.