Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Northeast

Raising Alpacas in New York

New York has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 81°F in July and winter lows average 15°F in January, with about 43 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

73/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
81°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
15°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~3Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~146Frost nights per year (state average)
43 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.250°2.470°3.690°4.9Jan: 3.0 inJanFeb: 2.5 inFebMar: 3.2 inMarApr: 3.5 inAprMay: 3.6 inMayJun: 4.2 inJunJul: 4.1 inJulAug: 4.0 inAugSep: 4.0 inSepOct: 4.2 inOctNov: 3.3 inNovDec: 3.5 inDecJan high: 32°FFeb high: 34°FMar high: 43°FApr high: 56°FMay high: 68°FJun high: 76°FJul high: 81°FAug high: 79°FSep high: 72°FOct high: 60°FNov high: 48°FDec high: 37°FJan low: 15°FFeb low: 16°FMar low: 24°FApr low: 34°FMay low: 46°FJun low: 55°FJul low: 60°FAug low: 58°FSep low: 51°FOct low: 40°FNov low: 31°FDec low: 22°F°Fin

Average of 62 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 Jun–Aug
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Sep)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Chautauqua County — 77/100
  2. Cortland County — 74/100
  3. Essex County — 74/100
  4. Hamilton County — 74/100
  5. Sullivan County — 74/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Bronx County — 67/100
  2. Kings County — 67/100
  3. Montgomery County — 67/100
  4. Nassau County — 67/100
  5. New York County — 67/100

All 62 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
Albany County821451475May1470
Allegany County791421605May1670
Bronx County862614826Apr1367
Broome County801531525May1670
Cattaraugus County791421595May1671
Cayuga County801631445May1673
Chautauqua County791621455May1477
Chemung County811531525May1673
Chenango County791321595May1671
Clinton County78711665May1671
Columbia County831671425May1473
Cortland County791421585May1674
Delaware County781311645May1671
Dutchess County841781375May1473
Erie County801731425May1473
Essex County77711794May1674
Franklin County77611775May1668
Fulton County791121645May1671
Genesee County801631425May1473
Greene County801431555May1670
Hamilton County76601854May1774
Herkimer County78811735May1671
Jefferson County791021575May1671
Kings County862614786Apr1367
Lewis County77711735May1671
Livingston County811631445May1473
Madison County791321575May1671
Monroe County811831345May1473
Montgomery County821351535May1467
Nassau County852611876Apr1367
New York County862615816Apr1367
Niagara County811831315May1473
Oneida County801221595May1671
Onondaga County801531475May1673
Ontario County801731425May1473
Orange County831871345May1473
Orleans County801831355May1473
Oswego County801421505May1671
Otsego County781211635May1671
Putnam County831871305May1473
Queens County852613816Apr1367
Rensselaer County811441495May1470
Richmond County862615846Apr1367
Rockland County8520111175Apr1469
Saratoga County811241565May1667
Schenectady County821341505May1470
Schoharie County801221615May1671
Schuyler County801531515May1673
Seneca County811741395May1473
St. Lawrence County79721675May1671
Steuben County801431585May1670
Suffolk County822461005Apr1373
Sullivan County801531545May1474
Tioga County811531515May1673
Tompkins County801531505May1673
Ulster County811641465May1473
Warren County79911705May1671
Washington County821141585May1667
Wayne County801731365May1473
Westchester County8521111145Apr1469
Wyoming County781511525May1674
Yates County801631455May1673

Typical alpaca care calendar for New York

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

January 32° / 15°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 34° / 16°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 43° / 24°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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 56° / 34°F

Meningeal worm
  • 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.
  • 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 68° / 46°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 76° / 55°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).

July 81° / 60°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 79° / 58°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 72° / 51°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.

October 60° / 40°F

Meningeal wormVitamin D
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

November 48° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 37° / 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 New York

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May (breed in Jun).
  • Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 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: Soils and hay in this state are often selenium-deficient. Use a camelid mineral formulated for low-selenium areas and blood-test a few animals each year.

Alpaca farms & shops in New York

Song Meadows Alpacas
Skaneateles
alicia adams alpaca
MillbrookWebsite
Wine Country Alpacas
North East
Alpaca Power Plant
Alpacas of Sunshine FarmWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in New York?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. New York scores 73/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of New York is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Chautauqua County, Cortland County and Essex County; the most challenging are Bronx County, Kings County and Montgomery County.
When should alpacas be shorn in New York?
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 New York?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May. For births then, breed females in Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in New York?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in New York?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 3 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

MassachusettsNew JerseyConnecticutMarylandMichiganPennsylvania

See how these guides are calculated.