Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in Mississippi

Mississippi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 91°F in July and winter lows average 35°F in January, with about 58 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

52/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
91°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
35°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~62Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~25Frost nights per year (state average)
58 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
9Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.665°3.282°4.9100°6.5Jan: 5.4 inJanFeb: 5.3 inFebMar: 5.5 inMarApr: 5.7 inAprMay: 4.7 inMayJun: 4.7 inJunJul: 5.0 inJulAug: 4.5 inAugSep: 3.8 inSepOct: 3.9 inOctNov: 4.3 inNovDec: 5.6 inDecJan high: 56°FFeb high: 60°FMar high: 68°FApr high: 76°FMay high: 83°FJun high: 89°FJul high: 91°FAug high: 91°FSep high: 87°FOct high: 77°FNov high: 66°FDec high: 58°FJan low: 35°FFeb low: 38°FMar low: 45°FApr low: 52°FMay low: 60°FJun low: 68°FJul low: 71°FAug low: 70°FSep low: 64°FOct low: 52°FNov low: 42°FDec low: 37°F°Fin

Average of 82 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 May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Mar–Nov)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 59 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Coahoma County — 61/100
  2. Tunica County — 61/100
  3. Bolivar County — 60/100
  4. Kemper County — 58/100
  5. Alcorn County — 55/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Amite County — 46/100
  2. Forrest County — 46/100
  3. George County — 46/100
  4. Greene County — 46/100
  5. Hancock County — 46/100

All 82 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 County923872149Mar848
Alcorn County903047547Mar1255
Amite County9138691410Mar846
Attala County913458319Mar952
Benton County903147507Mar1255
Bolivar County913461298Mar960
Calhoun County913256398Mar954
Carroll County913459309Mar952
Chickasaw County913356388Mar954
Choctaw County913355369Mar952
Claiborne County923771179Mar848
Clarke County923666239Mar848
Clay County923362359Mar952
Coahoma County913458327Mar1061
Copiah County923768189Mar852
Covington County923670209Mar848
DeSoto County913255387Mar1055
Forrest County9238721510Mar846
Franklin County923768169Mar848
George County9239731310Mar846
Greene County9238731610Mar846
Grenada County913360349Mar952
Hancock County914162710Mar846
Harrison County904061710Mar846
Hinds County923769199Mar852
Holmes County913663249Mar852
Humphreys County923669209Mar852
Issaquena County923672199Mar852
Itawamba County913254448Mar1054
Jackson County914065810Mar846
Jasper County923665249Mar848
Jefferson County923769169Mar848
Jefferson Davis County923768189Mar848
Jones County923772199Mar848
Kemper County913462309Mar858
Lafayette County903253428Mar1054
Lamar County9238691410Mar846
Lauderdale County913563279Mar852
Lawrence County923772179Mar848
Leake County913460309Mar852
Lee County913255418Mar1054
Leflore County923565249Mar952
Lincoln County913766179Mar848
Lowndes County923464349Mar952
Madison County923665249Mar852
Marion County9238721410Mar846
Marshall County903151457Mar1055
Monroe County913359378Mar954
Montgomery County913356369Mar952
Neshoba County913460329Mar852
Newton County913562299Mar852
Noxubee County923463319Mar952
Oktibbeha County923462349Mar952
Panola County913357378Mar1054
Pearl River County9139701110Mar846
Perry County9238731610Mar846
Pike County9238711510Mar846
Pontotoc County903252418Mar1054
Prentiss County903149498Mar1054
Quitman County913360338Mar954
Rankin County923666249Mar852
Scott County913562299Mar852
Sharkey County923672209Mar852
Simpson County923667219Mar848
Smith County923667249Mar848
Stone County9138681210Mar846
Sunflower County923564259Mar952
Tallahatchie County913461308Mar954
Tate County913256387Mar1055
Tippah County903146517Mar1255
Tishomingo County903047548Mar1254
Tunica County913358357Mar1061
Union County903151458Mar1054
Walthall County9238701410Mar846
Warren County923771179Mar852
Washington County923568239Mar952
Wayne County923769209Mar848
Webster County913355388Mar954
Wilkinson County923971129Mar848
Winston County913457339Mar952
Yalobusha County913357388Mar954
Yazoo County923667199Mar852

Typical alpaca care calendar for Mississippi

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

January 56° / 35°F

Meningeal worm
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 60° / 38°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • 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.

March 68° / 45°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 76° / 52°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).

May 83° / 60°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.

June 89° / 68°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.

July 91° / 71°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 91° / 70°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 87° / 64°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 77° / 52°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.

November 66° / 42°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.

December 58° / 37°F

Meningeal worm
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

Key recommendations for Mississippi

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Mar–Nov — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Winter: frost is rare.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: year-round (about 12 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 Mississippi

No alpaca farms in Mississippi are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Mississippi?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Mississippi scores 52/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Mississippi is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Coahoma County, Tunica County and Bolivar County; the most challenging are Amite County, Forrest County and George County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Mississippi?
Plan shearing for March, 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 Mississippi?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Feb–Apr. For births then, breed females in Mar–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Mississippi?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Mississippi?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 62 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

AlabamaLouisianaTennesseeArkansasGeorgiaKentucky

See how these guides are calculated.