Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mountain West

Raising Alpacas in Montana

Montana has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 82°F in July and winter lows average 12°F in January, with about 19 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are hard winters.

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

Statewide snapshot

89/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
82°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
12°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~4Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~196Frost nights per year (state average)
19 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
1Barber pole worm months (state average)
17Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.050°2.070°3.090°4.0Jan: 1.1 inJanFeb: 1.0 inFebMar: 1.2 inMarApr: 1.8 inAprMay: 2.6 inMayJun: 2.9 inJunJul: 1.5 inJulAug: 1.2 inAugSep: 1.4 inSepOct: 1.5 inOctNov: 1.2 inNovDec: 1.2 inDecJan high: 31°FFeb high: 34°FMar high: 44°FApr high: 53°FMay high: 63°FJun high: 72°FJul high: 82°FAug high: 81°FSep high: 70°FOct high: 55°FNov high: 41°FDec high: 31°FJan low: 12°FFeb low: 13°FMar low: 21°FApr low: 29°FMay low: 38°FJun low: 46°FJul low: 51°FAug low: 50°FSep low: 41°FOct low: 31°FNov low: 21°FDec low: 13°F°Fin

Average of 56 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Broadwater County — 98/100
  2. Flathead County — 98/100
  3. Lake County — 98/100
  4. Lewis and Clark County — 98/100
  5. Lincoln County — 98/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Carter County — 86/100
  2. Daniels County — 86/100
  3. Dawson County — 86/100
  4. Fallon County — 86/100
  5. McCone County — 86/100

All 56 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
Beaverhead County751202251Jun1889
Big Horn County8613131822May1690
Blaine County83871932May1787
Broadwater County811531911Jun1798
Carbon County801521891May1795
Carter County869131903May1786
Cascade County811541901Jun1795
Chouteau County8410101902May1787
Custer County889211832May1687
Daniels County81152043May1786
Dawson County856131903May1786
Deer Lodge County741302280Jun1891
Fallon County857121903May1786
Fergus County831271891May1789
Flathead County761702011Jun1798
Gallatin County781212151Jun1789
Garfield County868151862May1787
Glacier County751302071Jun1789
Golden Valley County841481922May1787
Granite County751502191Jun1795
Hill County84681991May1789
Jefferson County781412051Jun1795
Judith Basin County791422031Jun1789
Lake County802031751May1798
Lewis and Clark County781512021Jun1798
Liberty County82762011May1789
Lincoln County781811891Jun1798
Madison County771312141Jun1789
McCone County864141923May1786
Meagher County761412141Jun1789
Mineral County782011871Jun1798
Missoula County781711991Jun1798
Musselshell County8613151812May1690
Park County761312211Jun1789
Petroleum County8712181782May1687
Phillips County856121882May1787
Pondera County801132011Jun1789
Powder River County8810211852May1687
Powell County771412161Jun1789
Prairie County867161872May1787
Ravalli County771612111Jun1798
Richland County854121913May1786
Roosevelt County84291953May1786
Rosebud County8710181842May1687
Sanders County802031811Jun1798
Sheridan County82151983May1786
Silver Bow County771312141Jun1789
Stillwater County821551901Jun1798
Sweet Grass County801621941Jun1798
Teton County791322021Jun1789
Toole County82952001Jun1789
Treasure County8711181812May1687
Valley County84381942May1787
Wheatland County811442011Jun1789
Wibaux County857121893May1786
Yellowstone County8714161742May1693

Typical alpaca care calendar for Montana

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

January 31° / 12°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 34° / 13°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 44° / 21°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.

April 53° / 29°F

Frost
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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 63° / 38°F

Cria season
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • 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° / 46°F

ShearingWorm seasonCria 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.
  • 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 82° / 51°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 81° / 50°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

September 70° / 41°F

Breeding
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 55° / 31°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).

November 41° / 21°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 31° / 13°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 Montana

  • Shearing: June.
  • 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: Jun — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Oct–Apr — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: May–Sep (about 5 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
  • Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Montana

No alpaca farms in Montana are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Montana?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Montana scores 89/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
Which part of Montana is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Broadwater County, Flathead County and Lake County; the most challenging are Carter County, Daniels County and Dawson County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Montana?
Plan shearing for June, 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 Montana?
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 Montana?
With roughly 7 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 833 lb (378 kg) — around 17 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.

Neighboring states

IdahoNorth DakotaWyomingColoradoMinnesotaNevada

See how these guides are calculated.