Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Great Plains

Raising Alpacas in North Dakota

North Dakota has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 81°F in July and winter lows average 1°F in January, with about 19 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat and hard winters.

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

Statewide snapshot

73/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
81°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
1°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~5Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~189Frost nights per year (state average)
19 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
4Barber pole worm months (state average)
17Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
0°0.022°1.045°2.068°3.090°4.0Jan: 0.5 inJanFeb: 0.5 inFebMar: 0.8 inMarApr: 1.3 inAprMay: 2.7 inMayJun: 3.5 inJunJul: 3.0 inJulAug: 2.2 inAugSep: 1.9 inSepOct: 1.5 inOctNov: 0.6 inNovDec: 0.6 inDecJan high: 20°FFeb high: 24°FMar high: 37°FApr high: 53°FMay high: 66°FJun high: 76°FJul high: 81°FAug high: 81°FSep high: 71°FOct high: 55°FNov high: 37°FDec high: 24°FJan low: 1°FFeb low: 5°FMar low: 17°FApr low: 29°FMay low: 41°FJun low: 52°FJul low: 56°FAug low: 54°FSep low: 45°FOct low: 32°FNov low: 18°FDec low: 7°F°Fin

Average of 53 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–Aug
  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Adams County — 78/100
  2. Billings County — 78/100
  3. Bowman County — 78/100
  4. Divide County — 78/100
  5. Dunn County — 78/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Nelson County — 68/100
  2. Ramsey County — 68/100
  3. Richland County — 68/100
  4. Walsh County — 68/100
  5. Benson County — 70/100

All 53 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
Adams County846101933May1778
Barnes County81-041855May1771
Benson County80-231934May1770
Billings County84691923May1778
Bottineau County80-231934May1770
Bowman County847111933May1778
Burke County80-131993May1775
Burleigh County82261874May1773
Cass County82-051785May1671
Cavalier County78-411964May1770
Dickey County82241825May1771
Divide County80-041993May1778
Dunn County83481923May1778
Eddy County80-231904May1773
Emmons County83271854May1773
Foster County81-141905May1771
Golden Valley County846111913May1778
Grand Forks County81-241845May1771
Grant County84491894May1776
Griggs County80-231905May1771
Hettinger County84591933May1778
Kidder County81041904May1773
LaMoure County81241835May1771
Logan County81231895May1771
McHenry County81-141914May1773
McIntosh County81241885May1771
McKenzie County84491913May1778
McLean County82251884May1776
Mercer County83371884May1776
Morton County83381894May1776
Mountrail County81141963May1778
Nelson County79-321915May1768
Oliver County82361874May1776
Pembina County80-331855May1771
Pierce County80-331974May1770
Ramsey County79-321935May1768
Ransom County82151795May1671
Renville County80041923May1778
Richland County82161745May1668
Rolette County78-412003May1772
Sargent County82251775May1671
Sheridan County81141904May1773
Sioux County844101874May1776
Slope County847101923May1778
Stark County83581923May1778
Steele County80-231875May1771
Stutsman County81031875May1771
Towner County79-421994May1770
Traill County81-141795May1771
Walsh County80-321875May1768
Ward County81241914May1776
Wells County81-141924May1773
Williams County82261953May1778

Typical alpaca care calendar for North Dakota

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

January 20° / 1°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 24° / 5°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 37° / 17°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 53° / 29°F

Frost
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • 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.

May 66° / 41°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.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 76° / 52°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).

July 81° / 56°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.

August 81° / 54°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 71° / 45°F

Meningeal worm
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 55° / 32°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).

November 37° / 18°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 24° / 7°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations for North Dakota

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Oct–Apr — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: May–Sep (about 5 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: This area is at the western edge of the meningeal worm range. Risk is real where deer and snails share wet, wooded pastures.
  • Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in North Dakota

No alpaca farms in North Dakota are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in North Dakota?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. North Dakota scores 73/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and hard winters.
Which part of North Dakota is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Adams County, Billings County and Bowman County; the most challenging are Nelson County, Ramsey County and Richland County.
When should alpacas be shorn in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota?
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 North Dakota?
With roughly 7 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 833 lb (378 kg) — around 17 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in North Dakota?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 5 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

MinnesotaMontanaSouth DakotaIdahoIllinoisIowa

See how these guides are calculated.