Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Northeast

Raising Alpacas in Maine

Maine has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 78°F in July and winter lows average 9°F in January, with about 47 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, meningeal worm and hard winters.

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

Statewide snapshot

73/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
78°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
9°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~1Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~169Frost nights per year (state average)
47 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
4Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
0°0.020°1.540°2.960°4.480°5.8Jan: 3.5 inJanFeb: 3.0 inFebMar: 3.7 inMarApr: 4.0 inAprMay: 3.7 inMayJun: 4.4 inJunJul: 3.8 inJulAug: 3.6 inAugSep: 3.8 inSepOct: 5.0 inOctNov: 4.2 inNovDec: 4.3 inDecJan high: 27°FFeb high: 30°FMar high: 39°FApr high: 51°FMay high: 64°FJun high: 72°FJul high: 78°FAug high: 77°FSep high: 69°FOct high: 56°FNov high: 44°FDec high: 33°FJan low: 9°FFeb low: 10°FMar low: 19°FApr low: 31°FMay low: 41°FJun low: 51°FJul low: 57°FAug low: 55°FSep low: 48°FOct low: 38°FNov low: 28°FDec low: 17°F°Fin

Average of 16 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
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan–Feb
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Franklin County — 78/100
  2. Hancock County — 73/100
  3. Knox County — 73/100
  4. Lincoln County — 73/100
  5. Sagadahoc County — 73/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Aroostook County — 67/100
  2. York County — 67/100
  3. Oxford County — 70/100
  4. Androscoggin County — 71/100
  5. Cumberland County — 71/100

All 16 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
Androscoggin County791021635May1671
Aroostook County76111914May1767
Cumberland County801121595May1671
Franklin County75501874May1778
Hancock County781111604May1673
Kennebec County791021625May1671
Knox County761311524May1673
Lincoln County771311534May1673
Oxford County77611794May1670
Penobscot County79621745May1671
Piscataquis County76311884May1771
Sagadahoc County781211534May1673
Somerset County76401854May1771
Waldo County781011624May1673
Washington County781011634May1673
York County811331585May1667

Typical alpaca care calendar for Maine

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

January 27° / 9°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • 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 30° / 10°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • 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 39° / 19°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 51° / 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° / 41°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 72° / 51°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).

July 78° / 57°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 77° / 55°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 69° / 48°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 56° / 38°F

Meningeal wormVitamin D
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • 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 44° / 28°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° / 17°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 Maine

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: Jun–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 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 Maine

No alpaca farms in Maine are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Maine?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Maine scores 73/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, meningeal worm and hard winters.
Which part of Maine is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Franklin County, Hancock County and Knox County; the most challenging are Aroostook County, York County and Oxford County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Maine?
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 Maine?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jun. For births then, breed females in Jun–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Maine?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Maine?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 1 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

New HampshireVermontMassachusettsRhode IslandConnecticutNew York

See how these guides are calculated.