Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in North Carolina

North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 88°F in July and winter lows average 30°F in January, with about 51 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

61/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
88°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
30°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~26Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~59Frost nights per year (state average)
51 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
12Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.555°3.072°4.590°5.9Jan: 4.0 inJanFeb: 3.4 inFebMar: 4.2 inMarApr: 3.9 inAprMay: 4.0 inMayJun: 4.7 inJunJul: 5.1 inJulAug: 5.1 inAugSep: 5.2 inSepOct: 3.7 inOctNov: 3.6 inNovDec: 3.9 inDecJan high: 51°FFeb high: 54°FMar high: 62°FApr high: 71°FMay high: 78°FJun high: 84°FJul high: 88°FAug high: 86°FSep high: 81°FOct high: 72°FNov high: 62°FDec high: 54°FJan low: 30°FFeb low: 32°FMar low: 38°FApr low: 46°FMay low: 55°FJun low: 63°FJul low: 67°FAug low: 66°FSep low: 60°FOct low: 48°FNov low: 38°FDec low: 33°F°Fin

Average of 100 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 May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Apr–Oct)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 51 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Ashe County — 77/100
  2. Mitchell County — 77/100
  3. Yancey County — 77/100
  4. Alleghany County — 75/100
  5. Avery County — 71/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Brunswick County — 52/100
  2. Craven County — 52/100
  3. Jones County — 52/100
  4. New Hanover County — 52/100
  5. Onslow County — 52/100

All 100 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
Alamance County893033627Apr1261
Alexander County872924717Apr1261
Alleghany County812441106Apr1475
Anson County913251438Mar960
Ashe County792321215Apr1477
Avery County772311165Apr1471
Beaufort County893437328Mar960
Bertie County893135497Mar1261
Bladen County913347379Mar958
Brunswick County903541279Mar852
Buncombe County82266927Apr1269
Burke County872824757Apr1261
Cabarrus County903040567Mar1261
Caldwell County872823787Apr1261
Camden County883228457Mar1061
Carteret County883634218Mar854
Caswell County892832717Apr1261
Catawba County882929667Mar1261
Chatham County903038577Mar1261
Cherokee County842714827Apr1259
Chowan County883232427Mar1061
Clay County82267897Apr1263
Cleveland County892935657Mar1261
Columbus County903447339Mar858
Craven County893438339Mar952
Cumberland County913347419Mar958
Currituck County873323377Mar1065
Dare County873625247Mar961
Davidson County892931637Mar1261
Davie County882829737Apr1261
Duplin County903340419Mar958
Durham County902938687Apr1261
Edgecombe County903138527Mar1261
Forsyth County882927697Apr1261
Franklin County902938657Apr1261
Gaston County893037577Mar1261
Gates County893034577Mar1261
Graham County82266937Apr1263
Granville County892833747Apr1261
Greene County903241437Mar961
Guilford County882930637Mar1261
Halifax County903036607Apr1261
Harnett County903244488Mar960
Haywood County772411105Apr1471
Henderson County82287757Apr1263
Hertford County893034577Mar1261
Hoke County913247458Mar960
Hyde County893534258Mar960
Iredell County882928707Apr1261
Jackson County792521037Apr1467
Johnston County903242497Mar1061
Jones County903340399Mar952
Lee County903141547Mar1261
Lenoir County903341419Mar958
Lincoln County892932637Mar1261
Macon County81264967Apr1367
Madison County83268897Apr1269
Martin County893237467Mar961
McDowell County862718797Apr1259
Mecklenburg County903141537Mar1261
Mitchell County792421105Apr1477
Montgomery County903143487Mar1061
Moore County903143498Mar1060
Nash County903038607Apr1261
New Hanover County903541289Mar852
Northampton County893036617Apr1261
Onslow County893437339Mar952
Orange County892932677Apr1261
Pamlico County893536248Mar854
Pasquotank County883229447Mar1061
Pender County903441359Mar952
Perquimans County883231457Mar1061
Person County882829787Apr1261
Pitt County903240427Mar961
Polk County883028567Mar1255
Randolph County893035567Mar1261
Richmond County913250448Mar960
Robeson County913351379Mar958
Rockingham County892930697Apr1261
Rowan County892933657Mar1261
Rutherford County892933647Mar1261
Sampson County903243429Mar958
Scotland County913251429Mar958
Stanly County903144507Mar1061
Stokes County882825737Apr1261
Surry County872722827Apr1261
Swain County792421056Apr1469
Transylvania County80273867Apr1267
Tyrrell County883432327Mar961
Union County913146498Mar1060
Vance County892835737Apr1261
Wake County903039567Mar1261
Warren County902936687Apr1261
Washington County893335397Mar961
Watauga County782421145Apr1471
Wayne County903241437Mar961
Wilkes County862720817Apr1265
Wilson County903140507Mar1261
Yadkin County882825767Apr1261
Yancey County782421105Apr1477

Typical alpaca care calendar for North Carolina

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

January 51° / 30°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.

February 54° / 32°F

Vitamin D
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 62° / 38°F

ShearingMeningeal wormCria season
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • 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.
  • 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.

April 71° / 46°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).

May 78° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 84° / 63°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.

July 88° / 67°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 86° / 66°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 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.

October 72° / 48°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.

November 62° / 38°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 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 54° / 33°F

Vitamin D
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations for North Carolina

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Apr (breed in Apr–May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Jan — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: Mar–Nov (about 9 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 North Carolina

Raynay Alpaca Farm
Ruffin
Rainbow Magic Alpaca FarmWebsite
Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch
ConcordWebsite
Landmark Farm Alpacas
Grassy Creek

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in North Carolina?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. North Carolina scores 61/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of North Carolina is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Ashe County, Mitchell County and Yancey County; the most challenging are Brunswick County, Craven County and Jones County.
When should alpacas be shorn in North Carolina?
Plan shearing for March, 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 North Carolina?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Apr. For births then, breed females in Apr–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in North Carolina?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in North Carolina?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 26 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

AlabamaSouth CarolinaTennesseeWest VirginiaArkansasDistrict of Columbia

See how these guides are calculated.