Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Midwest

Raising Alpacas in Ohio

Ohio has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 84°F in July and winter lows average 20°F in January, with about 41 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

75/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
84°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
20°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~11Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~119Frost nights per year (state average)
41 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
6Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.355°2.572°3.890°5.0Jan: 2.9 inJanFeb: 2.5 inFebMar: 3.2 inMarApr: 3.9 inAprMay: 4.2 inMayJun: 4.4 inJunJul: 4.2 inJulAug: 3.5 inAugSep: 3.3 inSepOct: 3.0 inOctNov: 2.9 inNovDec: 3.0 inDecJan high: 36°FFeb high: 39°FMar high: 49°FApr high: 62°FMay high: 73°FJun high: 81°FJul high: 84°FAug high: 83°FSep high: 77°FOct high: 64°FNov high: 51°FDec high: 40°FJan low: 20°FFeb low: 22°FMar low: 30°FApr low: 40°FMay low: 50°FJun low: 59°FJul low: 63°FAug low: 61°FSep low: 54°FOct low: 43°FNov low: 33°FDec low: 26°F°Fin

Average of 88 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
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Oct)
  • 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. Allen County — 77/100
  2. Ashland County — 77/100
  3. Ashtabula County — 77/100
  4. Auglaize County — 77/100
  5. Carroll County — 77/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Gallia County — 65/100
  2. Lawrence County — 65/100
  3. Scioto County — 65/100
  4. Adams County — 69/100
  5. Brown County — 69/100

All 88 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 County8623181087Apr1469
Allen County8419101215Apr1477
Ashland County831871305May1477
Ashtabula County811941315May1477
Athens County8422131127Apr1473
Auglaize County8419101225Apr1477
Belmont County832191186Apr1475
Brown County8622171107Apr1469
Butler County8622181087Apr1469
Carroll County832081255Apr1477
Champaign County842091205Apr1477
Clark County8420111156Apr1475
Clermont County8623181037Apr1469
Clinton County8422121116Apr1475
Columbiana County832071265May1477
Coshocton County8420101236Apr1475
Crawford County831881295Apr1477
Cuyahoga County822161165Apr1477
Darke County8419101216Apr1475
Defiance County8418111275Apr1477
Delaware County8420121196Apr1475
Erie County832071145Apr1477
Fairfield County8421121156Apr1475
Fayette County8421111146Apr1475
Franklin County8521141126Apr1471
Fulton County8418101295Apr1477
Gallia County8624181037Apr1465
Geauga County811841325May1477
Greene County8421121106Apr1475
Guernsey County8420111216Apr1475
Hamilton County8623201017Apr1469
Hancock County8419111215Apr1477
Hardin County8419101225Apr1477
Harrison County832081225Apr1477
Henry County8519121255Apr1477
Highland County8422131117Apr1473
Hocking County8422111157Apr1473
Holmes County831981275Apr1477
Huron County831981275Apr1477
Jackson County8523141077Apr1473
Jefferson County832181185Apr1477
Knox County831981295Apr1477
Lake County812041205May1477
Lawrence County8624201017Apr1465
Licking County8420101226Apr1475
Logan County831991225Apr1477
Lorain County832071185Apr1477
Lucas County8520111205Apr1477
Madison County8420121166Apr1475
Mahoning County831981325May1477
Marion County8419101235Apr1477
Medina County831971245Apr1477
Meigs County8523151087Apr1473
Mercer County8419101235Apr1477
Miami County8520131156Apr1475
Monroe County8421111167Apr1473
Montgomery County8521151116Apr1471
Morgan County8421121177Apr1473
Morrow County831881295Apr1477
Muskingum County8421111206Apr1475
Noble County8421121197Apr1473
Ottawa County842091155Apr1477
Paulding County8518121265Apr1477
Perry County8421111206Apr1475
Pickaway County8522151087Apr1469
Pike County8523151077Apr1469
Portage County821961305May1477
Preble County8420121186Apr1475
Putnam County8419111225Apr1477
Richland County831871335May1477
Ross County8522141087Apr1473
Sandusky County8420101185Apr1477
Scioto County8623181057Apr1465
Seneca County8419101235Apr1477
Shelby County8419101215Apr1477
Stark County832081265Apr1477
Summit County832081225Apr1477
Trumbull County831871355May1477
Tuscarawas County842091245Apr1477
Union County8420111206Apr1475
Van Wert County8419111245Apr1477
Vinton County8422121107Apr1473
Warren County8522161067Apr1469
Washington County8522151117Apr1473
Wayne County831981275Apr1477
Williams County841891325May1477
Wood County8520121205Apr1477
Wyandot County8419101225Apr1477

Typical alpaca care calendar for Ohio

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

January 36° / 20°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 39° / 22°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).

March 49° / 30°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 62° / 40°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.

May 73° / 50°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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 81° / 59°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 84° / 63°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 83° / 61°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 77° / 54°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 64° / 43°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormVitamin D
  • 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.
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 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).

November 51° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 40° / 26°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 Ohio

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–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 Ohio

Alpaca Meadows
Alpaca Meadows
MansfieldWebsite
Alpaca Meadows
Mansfield
The Alpacas Of Spring Acres
ZanesvilleWebsite
Yes Suri Alpacas

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Ohio?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Ohio scores 75/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Ohio is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Allen County, Ashland County and Ashtabula County; the most challenging are Gallia County, Lawrence County and Scioto County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Ohio?
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 Ohio?
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 Ohio?
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 Ohio?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 11 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IndianaMichiganPennsylvaniaWest VirginiaIllinoisIowa

See how these guides are calculated.