Climate snapshot for alpacas
84/100Alpaca climate comfort score
94°FAverage high, Jun
28°FAverage low, Jan
~76Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~86Frost nights per year
12 inAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
20Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Aug
- Dry climate — only 12 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: 84/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 28°F | 0.9 in | 123 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 62°F | 31°F | 0.8 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 69°F | 35°F | 0.6 in | 117 · ok | — |
| Apr | 77°F | 41°F | 0.2 in | 109 · ok | — |
| May | 85°F | 50°F | 0.2 in | 112 · ok | — |
| Jun | 94°F | 60°F | 0.5 in | 130 · caution | — |
| Jul | 93°F | 65°F | 2.7 in | 136 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 90°F | 63°F | 2.5 in | 132 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 86°F | 57°F | 1.4 in | 128 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 78°F | 45°F | 0.8 in | 112 · ok | — |
| Nov | 67°F | 34°F | 0.7 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Dec | 57°F | 28°F | 1.1 in | 97 · 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 Hidalgo County, New Mexico
January 58° / 28°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 62° / 31°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
March 69° / 35°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 77° / 41°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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
May 85° / 50°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 94° / 60°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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.
July 93° / 65°F
- 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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 90° / 63°F
- 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.
September 86° / 57°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Secure winter hay: about 20 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.
October 78° / 45°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 67° / 34°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 57° / 28°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–May (breed in May–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Jul–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Jul–Sep (about 3 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 Hidalgo County, New Mexico 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 Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Hidalgo County, New Mexico scores 84/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–May. For births then, breed females in May–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
With roughly 9 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 967 lb (439 kg) — around 20 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 76 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 31.898, -108.752 · land area 3,439 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to New Mexico.