Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mountain West

Raising Alpacas in Nevada

Nevada has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk): summer highs average 90°F in July and winter lows average 22°F in December, with about 10 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat and dry climate.

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

Statewide snapshot

91/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
90°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
22°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~29Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~144Frost nights per year (state average)
10 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
0Barber pole worm months (state average)
21Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.055°2.072°3.090°4.0Jan: 1.3 inJanFeb: 1.2 inFebMar: 1.2 inMarApr: 0.9 inAprMay: 1.0 inMayJun: 0.6 inJunJul: 0.4 inJulAug: 0.4 inAugSep: 0.4 inSepOct: 0.7 inOctNov: 0.8 inNovDec: 1.3 inDecJan high: 44°FFeb high: 47°FMar high: 55°FApr high: 61°FMay high: 70°FJun high: 81°FJul high: 90°FAug high: 88°FSep high: 79°FOct high: 66°FNov high: 52°FDec high: 43°FJan low: 23°FFeb low: 25°FMar low: 30°FApr low: 34°FMay low: 42°FJun low: 50°FJul low: 57°FAug low: 55°FSep low: 48°FOct low: 37°FNov low: 28°FDec low: 22°F°Fin

Average of 17 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
  • Dry climate — only 10 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Douglas County — 100/100
  2. Elko County — 100/100
  3. Washoe County — 100/100
  4. White Pine County — 100/100
  5. Carson City — 100/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Clark County — 69/100
  2. Churchill County — 87/100
  3. Esmeralda County — 87/100
  4. Lincoln County — 87/100
  5. Lyon County — 87/100

All 17 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
Carson City8623161420May20100
Churchill County9320461520May2287
Clark County10035103260Mar1869
Douglas County8523111530May21100
Elko County8616121890Jun20100
Esmeralda County9222421320May2487
Eureka County8816191890Jun2295
Humboldt County8921251540May2091
Lander County8919241700May2291
Lincoln County9326501040Apr2187
Lyon County9121341480May2287
Mineral County9020301560May2487
Nye County9121371380May2487
Pershing County9221381500May2187
Storey County8724191300May2195
Washoe County8822191490May20100
White Pine County8616131850Jun20100

Typical alpaca care calendar for Nevada

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

January 44° / 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.

February 47° / 25°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).

March 55° / 30°F

Frost
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 61° / 34°F

  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.

May 70° / 42°F

ShearingCria season
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
  • Secure winter hay: about 21 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 81° / 50°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

July 90° / 57°F

HeatBreeding
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 88° / 55°F

  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

September 79° / 48°F

  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 66° / 37°F

  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.

November 52° / 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 43° / 22°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 Nevada

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul.
  • Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: Apr–May (about 2 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
  • Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Nevada

Alpaca Exotic Imports
Cusco Alpaca Peru

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Nevada?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Nevada scores 91/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
Which part of Nevada is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Douglas County, Elko County and Washoe County; the most challenging are Clark County, Churchill County and Esmeralda County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Nevada?
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 Nevada?
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 Nevada?
With roughly 10 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 1,034 lb (469 kg) — around 21 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Nevada?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul. We estimate about 29 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IdahoOregonUtahWyomingArizonaCalifornia

See how these guides are calculated.