Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · South Central

Raising Alpacas in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 94°F in July and winter lows average 27°F in January, with about 37 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat and barber pole worm.

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

Statewide snapshot

72/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
94°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
27°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~65Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~71Frost nights per year (state average)
37 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
12Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.040°1.560°2.980°4.4100°5.9Jan: 1.6 inJanFeb: 1.8 inFebMar: 2.9 inMarApr: 3.7 inAprMay: 5.1 inMayJun: 4.4 inJunJul: 3.2 inJulAug: 3.2 inAugSep: 3.5 inSepOct: 3.5 inOctNov: 2.4 inNovDec: 2.2 inDecJan high: 50°FFeb high: 55°FMar high: 64°FApr high: 72°FMay high: 80°FJun high: 89°FJul high: 94°FAug high: 93°FSep high: 85°FOct high: 74°FNov high: 62°FDec high: 52°FJan low: 27°FFeb low: 31°FMar low: 40°FApr low: 47°FMay low: 57°FJun low: 66°FJul low: 70°FAug low: 69°FSep low: 61°FOct low: 49°FNov low: 38°FDec low: 29°F°Fin

Average of 77 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 (Apr–Oct)

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Cimarron County — 83/100
  2. Texas County — 81/100
  3. Beaver County — 78/100
  4. Cleveland County — 76/100
  5. Ellis County — 74/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Jefferson County — 55/100
  2. Cotton County — 57/100
  3. Tillman County — 57/100
  4. Greer County — 58/100
  5. Harmon County — 58/100

All 77 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
Adair County912743717Mar1273
Alfalfa County952371957Apr1267
Atoka County943069518Mar1068
Beaver County9422641134Apr1378
Beckham County952675837Apr1263
Blaine County952669817Mar1272
Bryan County943271418Mar1068
Caddo County952870687Mar1272
Canadian County942765717Mar1272
Carter County943072498Mar1071
Cherokee County922750677Mar1273
Choctaw County943169468Mar1068
Cimarron County9221491343May1383
Cleveland County942862637Mar1276
Coal County942971558Mar1068
Comanche County952976598Mar1262
Cotton County972986568Mar1057
Craig County912648767Mar1273
Creek County932656727Mar1273
Custer County952570857Apr1272
Delaware County912645757Mar1273
Dewey County942465917Apr1272
Ellis County9423621036Apr1274
Garfield County952568837Apr1272
Garvin County942869598Mar1271
Grady County942869648Mar1271
Grant County952468917Apr1272
Greer County962782757Mar1258
Harmon County972787747Mar1258
Harper County9522671086Apr1274
Haskell County932961547Mar1273
Hughes County932863597Mar1269
Jackson County972889677Mar1258
Jefferson County963080509Mar1055
Johnston County943069498Mar1068
Kay County932459887Apr1272
Kingfisher County952672777Mar1267
Kiowa County962879698Mar1262
Latimer County922957547Mar1273
Le Flore County922955577Mar1273
Lincoln County942762707Mar1269
Logan County942667737Mar1272
Love County953176439Mar1065
Major County952472907Apr1267
Marshall County943272428Mar1068
Mayes County922752707Mar1273
McClain County942866628Mar1271
McCurtain County923159498Mar1072
McIntosh County932960567Mar1273
Murray County943066528Mar1071
Muskogee County932860607Mar1273
Noble County942564807Mar1272
Nowata County922649787Mar1273
Okfuskee County932859647Mar1273
Oklahoma County942863667Mar1272
Okmulgee County932858627Mar1273
Osage County922551847Apr1273
Ottawa County912646777Mar1273
Pawnee County932658787Mar1273
Payne County942663757Mar1269
Pittsburg County932962557Mar1273
Pontotoc County942965578Mar1268
Pottawatomie County942863647Mar1269
Pushmataha County923058528Mar1072
Roger Mills County942467917Apr1272
Rogers County922653717Mar1273
Seminole County942863637Mar1269
Sequoyah County922957597Mar1273
Stephens County952973578Mar1067
Texas County9422621204Apr1381
Tillman County972989608Mar1057
Tulsa County932757707Mar1273
Wagoner County932759657Mar1273
Washington County922552827Mar1273
Washita County952773767Mar1267
Woods County9522681037Apr1267
Woodward County9423641017Apr1272

Typical alpaca care calendar for Oklahoma

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

January 50° / 27°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 55° / 31°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).

March 64° / 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 72° / 47°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 80° / 57°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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 89° / 66°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 94° / 70°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 93° / 69°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 85° / 61°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 74° / 49°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.
  • 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 52° / 29°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 Oklahoma

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Mar–May (breed in Apr–Jun).
  • Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — 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: This area is at the western edge of the meningeal worm range. Risk is real where deer and snails share wet, wooded pastures.
  • Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Oklahoma

Alpaca Ranch Retirement Center
Crossed Arrows Alpaca Farm & Fiber Mill
Duncan

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Oklahoma?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Oklahoma scores 72/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
Which part of Oklahoma is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Cimarron County, Texas County and Beaver County; the most challenging are Jefferson County, Cotton County and Tillman County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Oklahoma?
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 Oklahoma?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–May. For births then, breed females in Apr–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Oklahoma?
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 Oklahoma?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 65 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

KansasLouisianaTexasArkansasMississippiNebraska

See how these guides are calculated.