Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Midwest

Raising Alpacas in Illinois

Illinois has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 86°F in July and winter lows average 19°F in January, with about 41 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

75/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
86°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
19°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~18Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~115Frost nights per year (state average)
41 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
6Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.450°2.870°4.190°5.5Jan: 2.4 inJanFeb: 2.2 inFebMar: 3.1 inMarApr: 4.3 inAprMay: 4.8 inMayJun: 4.7 inJunJul: 4.1 inJulAug: 3.5 inAugSep: 3.4 inSepOct: 3.3 inOctNov: 3.2 inNovDec: 2.5 inDecJan high: 35°FFeb high: 40°FMar high: 52°FApr high: 64°FMay high: 74°FJun high: 83°FJul high: 86°FAug high: 85°FSep high: 79°FOct high: 66°FNov high: 52°FDec high: 40°FJan low: 19°FFeb low: 23°FMar low: 32°FApr low: 42°FMay low: 53°FJun low: 62°FJul low: 65°FAug low: 63°FSep low: 55°FOct low: 44°FNov low: 33°FDec low: 24°F°Fin

Average of 102 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 Jul–Aug
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Oct)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Cook County — 77/100
  2. DuPage County — 77/100
  3. Kendall County — 77/100
  4. Knox County — 77/100
  5. Lake County — 77/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Alexander County — 69/100
  2. Bond County — 69/100
  3. Calhoun County — 69/100
  4. Clay County — 69/100
  5. Clinton County — 69/100

All 102 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
Adams County8618191156Apr1475
Alexander County892636777Apr1269
Bond County8722251007Apr1469
Boone County831381445May1474
Brown County8618191176Apr1475
Bureau County8414111365Apr1474
Calhoun County8821251057Apr1469
Carroll County841391415May1474
Cass County8619201177Apr1473
Champaign County8518161226Apr1475
Christian County8620201117Apr1473
Clark County8621211087Apr1473
Clay County872224997Apr1469
Clinton County882329967Apr1469
Coles County8620181117Apr1473
Cook County841791285Apr1477
Crawford County8722231017Apr1469
Cumberland County8621201077Apr1473
De Witt County8518161236Apr1475
DeKalb County831481415May1474
Douglas County8619181156Apr1475
DuPage County8416101345May1477
Edgar County8619171156Apr1475
Edwards County882430927Apr1269
Effingham County8721221047Apr1473
Fayette County8721241037Apr1469
Ford County8517141286Apr1475
Franklin County882428907Apr1269
Fulton County8617171236Apr1475
Gallatin County882531847Apr1269
Greene County8720231087Apr1473
Grundy County8416131296Apr1475
Hamilton County882429907Apr1269
Hancock County8617171206Apr1475
Hardin County882631817Apr1269
Henderson County8516151276Apr1475
Henry County8414111345Apr1474
Iroquois County8517131286Apr1475
Jackson County882431907Apr1269
Jasper County8622211027Apr1473
Jefferson County872326947Apr1269
Jersey County8721251027Apr1469
Jo Daviess County831271445May1474
Johnson County882630827Apr1269
Kane County841491395May1474
Kankakee County8417121296Apr1475
Kendall County8416111325Apr1477
Knox County8515131325Apr1477
LaSalle County8415121335Apr1477
Lake County831661365May1477
Lawrence County872326977Apr1469
Lee County841491395May1474
Livingston County8516131296Apr1475
Logan County8618181207Apr1473
Macon County8619171176Apr1475
Macoupin County8721211077Apr1473
Madison County882228967Apr1369
Marion County872224997Apr1469
Marshall County8516141306Apr1475
Mason County8618201197Apr1473
Massac County892635757Apr1269
McDonough County8517151246Apr1475
McHenry County831471455May1474
McLean County8517151276Apr1475
Menard County8619191177Apr1473
Mercer County8514121325Apr1474
Monroe County892432907Apr1269
Montgomery County8620211077Apr1473
Morgan County8619201157Apr1473
Moultrie County8619181136Apr1475
Ogle County831391415May1474
Peoria County8616161266Apr1475
Perry County882429927Apr1269
Piatt County8518171196Apr1475
Pike County8720211117Apr1473
Pope County882631807Apr1269
Pulaski County892636767Apr1269
Putnam County8515141316Apr1475
Randolph County882432927Apr1269
Richland County872325977Apr1469
Rock Island County8414121335Apr1474
Saline County882530857Apr1269
Sangamon County8619191147Apr1473
Schuyler County8618181206Apr1475
Scott County8720221137Apr1473
Shelby County8620201097Apr1473
St. Clair County892332927Apr1269
Stark County8515121345Apr1474
Stephenson County831281455May1474
Tazewell County8617171236Apr1475
Union County882532857Apr1269
Vermilion County8518151236Apr1475
Wabash County882429937Apr1269
Warren County8515131315Apr1477
Washington County882328957Apr1269
Wayne County882328937Apr1269
White County882431887Apr1269
Whiteside County8414111375Apr1474
Will County8416111295Apr1477
Williamson County882529877Apr1269
Winnebago County841381425May1474
Woodford County8516151296Apr1475

Typical alpaca care calendar for Illinois

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

January 35° / 19°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 40° / 23°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).

March 52° / 32°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 64° / 42°F

ShearingMeningeal wormCria season
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • 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.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.

May 74° / 53°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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 83° / 62°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).

July 86° / 65°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.

August 85° / 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.

September 79° / 55°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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 66° / 44°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.

November 52° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 40° / 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).

Key recommendations for Illinois

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–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 (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 Illinois

White Violet Farm Alpacas
White Violet Farm Alpacas Barn
Alpaca Art
White Violet Farm AlpacasWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Illinois?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Illinois scores 75/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Illinois is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Cook County, DuPage County and Kendall County; the most challenging are Alexander County, Bond County and Calhoun County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Illinois?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Illinois?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jun. For births then, breed females in May–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Illinois?
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 Illinois?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 18 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IndianaMichiganMinnesotaIowaKentuckyNorth Dakota

See how these guides are calculated.