Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Midwest

Raising Alpacas in Michigan

Michigan has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 81°F in July and winter lows average 14°F in January, with about 34 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are barber pole worm, meningeal worm and hard winters.

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

Statewide snapshot

79/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
81°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
14°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~3Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~158Frost nights per year (state average)
34 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.050°2.070°3.090°4.0Jan: 2.1 inJanFeb: 1.7 inFebMar: 2.0 inMarApr: 3.2 inAprMay: 3.5 inMayJun: 3.5 inJunJul: 3.3 inJulAug: 3.3 inAugSep: 3.2 inSepOct: 3.5 inOctNov: 2.6 inNovDec: 2.2 inDecJan high: 28°FFeb high: 31°FMar high: 42°FApr high: 54°FMay high: 67°FJun high: 77°FJul high: 81°FAug high: 79°FSep high: 72°FOct high: 58°FNov high: 44°FDec high: 33°FJan low: 14°FFeb low: 14°FMar low: 22°FApr low: 32°FMay low: 43°FJun low: 53°FJul low: 58°FAug low: 57°FSep low: 49°FOct low: 39°FNov low: 29°FDec low: 20°F°Fin

Average of 83 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Sep)
  • 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. Leelanau County — 87/100
  2. Bay County — 85/100
  3. Benzie County — 85/100
  4. Huron County — 85/100
  5. Lapeer County — 85/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Iron County — 73/100
  2. Isabella County — 74/100
  3. Montcalm County — 74/100
  4. Baraga County — 75/100
  5. Gogebic County — 75/100

All 83 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
Alcona County801221675May1679
Alger County77911794May1681
Allegan County831871355May1477
Alpena County801221665May1679
Antrim County801321635May1679
Arenac County811441545May1679
Baraga County76511914May1775
Barry County831761425May1477
Bay County821651445May1485
Benzie County791521575May1685
Berrien County831871295May1477
Branch County831761395May1477
Calhoun County831661415May1477
Cass County831771355May1477
Charlevoix County791321625May1679
Cheboygan County791021705May1679
Chippewa County76811794May1681
Clare County811341645May1679
Clinton County831661435May1477
Crawford County801121725May1679
Delta County781011754May1681
Dickinson County79521895May1776
Eaton County821661435May1477
Emmet County771211644May1681
Genesee County831661435May1477
Gladwin County821451575May1679
Gogebic County77411924May1775
Grand Traverse County801431625May1679
Gratiot County831661465May1477
Hillsdale County821661405May1477
Houghton County77611854May1775
Huron County801621475May1685
Ingham County821651435May1477
Ionia County831661465May1477
Iosco County801331615May1679
Iron County78311975Jun1773
Isabella County821561545May1674
Jackson County821661425May1477
Kalamazoo County831771385May1477
Kalkaska County801231695May1679
Kent County831661465May1477
Keweenaw County75801824May1781
Lake County811441625May1679
Lapeer County821651435May1485
Leelanau County781611544May1687
Lenawee County831781365May1477
Livingston County821651455May1477
Luce County76811824May1781
Mackinac County76911744May1681
Macomb County831861305May1477
Manistee County801521575May1685
Marquette County78611894May1775
Mason County801631535May1685
Mecosta County821451625May1679
Menominee County80831785May1676
Midland County831661475May1477
Missaukee County811231715May1679
Monroe County8419101275Apr1477
Montcalm County821551545May1474
Montmorency County801131735May1679
Muskegon County821851435May1481
Newaygo County821551575May1685
Oakland County821661415May1477
Oceana County811631515May1685
Ogemaw County811231675May1679
Ontonagon County78611874May1775
Osceola County811231695May1679
Oscoda County801131735May1679
Otsego County791021745May1679
Ottawa County821861375May1477
Presque Isle County801121675May1679
Roscommon County811231695May1679
Saginaw County831661435May1477
Sanilac County801631425May1685
Schoolcraft County781011764May1681
Shiawassee County821661445May1477
St. Clair County821851325May1481
St. Joseph County831781365May1477
Tuscola County821651445May1485
Van Buren County831871345May1477
Washtenaw County831671425May1477
Wayne County841881305May1477
Wexford County801331685May1679

Typical alpaca care calendar for Michigan

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

January 28° / 14°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 31° / 14°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 42° / 22°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° / 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.

May 67° / 43°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • 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.
  • 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 77° / 53°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 81° / 58°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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 79° / 57°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).

September 72° / 49°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.

October 58° / 39°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° / 29°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° / 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).

Key recommendations for Michigan

  • 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 season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — 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 Michigan

Freedom Valley Alpaca Ranch
Alpaca to Apparel
Crystal Lake Alpaca Boutique
Traverse CityWebsite
Kalpaka zāle
Llama/Alpaca Barn

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Michigan?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Michigan scores 79/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are barber pole worm, meningeal worm and hard winters.
Which part of Michigan is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Leelanau County, Bay County and Benzie County; the most challenging are Iron County, Isabella County and Montcalm County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Michigan?
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 Michigan?
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 Michigan?
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.

Neighboring states

IllinoisOhioWisconsinIndianaMinnesotaNew York

See how these guides are calculated.