Climate snapshot for alpacas
87/100Alpaca climate comfort score
92°FAverage high, Jul
22°FAverage low, Dec
~42Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~132Frost nights per year
5 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
24Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Aug
- Dry climate — only 5 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 87/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold desert (Köppen BWk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 23°F | 0.6 in | 126 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 0.7 in | 130 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 58°F | 31°F | 0.6 in | 127 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 64°F | 36°F | 0.4 in | 122 · ok | — |
| May | 74°F | 45°F | 0.5 in | 107 · ok | — |
| Jun | 85°F | 53°F | 0.3 in | 111 · ok | — |
| Jul | 92°F | 61°F | 0.5 in | 117 · ok | — |
| Aug | 90°F | 58°F | 0.3 in | 115 · ok | — |
| Sep | 81°F | 50°F | 0.3 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Oct | 69°F | 39°F | 0.4 in | 109 · ok | — |
| Nov | 55°F | 29°F | 0.3 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 45°F | 22°F | 0.5 in | 100 · ok | frost |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Esmeralda County, Nevada
January 46° / 23°F
- 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 50° / 26°F
- 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 58° / 31°F
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 64° / 36°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
May 74° / 45°F
- 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.
- 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.
June 85° / 53°F
- 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 92° / 61°F
- 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 90° / 58°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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 81° / 50°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 69° / 39°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 55° / 29°F
- 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 45° / 22°F
- 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
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- 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: none (about 0 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Esmeralda County, Nevada are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Esmeralda County, Nevada?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Esmeralda County, Nevada scores 87/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Esmeralda County, 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 Esmeralda County, Nevada?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jun. For births then, breed females in May–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Esmeralda County, Nevada?
With roughly 12 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 1,167 lb (529 kg) — around 24 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Esmeralda County, Nevada?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 42 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 37.779, -117.632 · land area 3,582 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Nevada.