Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Midwest

Raising Alpacas in Minnesota

Minnesota has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 81°F in July and winter lows average 3°F in January, with about 30 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

68/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
81°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
3°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~3Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~172Frost nights per year (state average)
30 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
0°0.022°1.345°2.668°4.090°5.3Jan: 0.8 inJanFeb: 0.8 inFebMar: 1.4 inMarApr: 2.5 inAprMay: 3.7 inMayJun: 4.6 inJunJul: 4.0 inJulAug: 3.7 inAugSep: 3.1 inSepOct: 2.5 inOctNov: 1.4 inNovDec: 1.0 inDecJan high: 20°FFeb high: 26°FMar high: 39°FApr high: 54°FMay high: 68°FJun high: 77°FJul high: 81°FAug high: 79°FSep high: 71°FOct high: 56°FNov high: 39°FDec high: 26°FJan low: 3°FFeb low: 6°FMar low: 20°FApr low: 32°FMay low: 44°FJun low: 55°FJul low: 59°FAug low: 57°FSep low: 49°FOct low: 36°FNov low: 23°FDec low: 10°F°Fin

Average of 87 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–Sep)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Cook County — 77/100
  2. Houston County — 71/100
  3. Lake County — 71/100
  4. Aitkin County — 68/100
  5. Anoka County — 68/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Beltrami County — 65/100
  2. Clearwater County — 65/100
  3. Itasca County — 65/100
  4. Kittson County — 65/100
  5. Koochiching County — 65/100

All 87 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
Aitkin County79-021845May1768
Anoka County82551625May1668
Becker County79-221825May1768
Beltrami County78-411895May1765
Benton County81331715May1668
Big Stone County82361725May1668
Blue Earth County82661605May1468
Brown County83661615May1468
Carlton County78011885May1768
Carver County82651595May1468
Cass County79-121815May1768
Chippewa County83461685May1668
Chisago County82441675May1668
Clay County81-141775May1668
Clearwater County78-311875May1765
Cook County74-202033Jun1777
Cottonwood County82651655May1668
Crow Wing County80121785May1668
Dakota County82751575May1468
Dodge County81631665May1668
Douglas County80121765May1668
Faribault County82751605May1468
Fillmore County81741645May1668
Freeborn County81641635May1468
Goodhue County81641615May1468
Grant County81141745May1668
Hennepin County82651595May1468
Houston County82851555May1471
Hubbard County79-221845May1768
Isanti County81441675May1668
Itasca County78-311895May1765
Jackson County82661655May1468
Kanabec County80231755May1668
Kandiyohi County82441695May1668
Kittson County80-421875May1765
Koochiching County78-511935May1765
Lac qui Parle County83471685May1668
Lake County76-211994Jun1771
Lake of the Woods County78-511925May1765
Le Sueur County82651595May1468
Lincoln County82541715May1668
Lyon County83661655May1668
Mahnomen County79-321845May1768
Marshall County80-431875May1765
Martin County82761615May1468
McLeod County82551635May1668
Meeker County82441675May1668
Mille Lacs County80231745May1668
Morrison County80231735May1668
Mower County81631655May1668
Murray County82651685May1668
Nicollet County82661595May1468
Nobles County83661685May1668
Norman County81-141785May1768
Olmsted County81641655May1668
Otter Tail County80-021785May1768
Pennington County79-421865May1768
Pine County80221805May1768
Pipestone County82651715May1668
Polk County80-231825May1768
Pope County81231735May1668
Ramsey County82751575May1468
Red Lake County80-321855May1768
Redwood County83671635May1468
Renville County82561645May1468
Rice County82641625May1468
Rock County83771665May1468
Roseau County79-521905May1765
Scott County82751575May1468
Sherburne County81441665May1668
Sibley County82651615May1468
St. Louis County78-311965May1765
Stearns County81241715May1668
Steele County81641645May1668
Stevens County82251735May1668
Swift County82351705May1668
Todd County80121765May1668
Traverse County82251735May1668
Wabasha County82651615May1468
Wadena County80-121795May1768
Waseca County82641625May1468
Washington County82651595May1468
Watonwan County82661615May1468
Wilkin County82051745May1668
Winona County81841585May1468
Wright County82441645May1668
Yellow Medicine County83571665May1668

Typical alpaca care calendar for Minnesota

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

January 20° / 3°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 26° / 6°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° / 20°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 68° / 44°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° / 55°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° / 59°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 79° / 57°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 71° / 49°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° / 36°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 39° / 23°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 26° / 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).

Key recommendations for Minnesota

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • 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: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Minnesota

The Alpaca Farm Store

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Minnesota?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Minnesota scores 68/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Minnesota is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Cook County, Houston County and Lake County; the most challenging are Beltrami County, Clearwater County and Itasca County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 3 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IllinoisIowaNorth DakotaIndianaMichiganMissouri

See how these guides are calculated.