Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Pacific

Raising Alpacas in Oregon

Oregon has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb): summer highs average 80°F in July and winter lows average 28°F in December, with about 44 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are low selenium.

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

Statewide snapshot

100/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
80°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
28°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~4Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~108Frost nights per year (state average)
44 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
0Barber pole worm months (state average)
17Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°2.155°4.272°6.490°8.5Jan: 6.4 inJanFeb: 4.8 inFebMar: 5.0 inMarApr: 3.8 inAprMay: 2.7 inMayJun: 1.7 inJunJul: 0.5 inJulAug: 0.6 inAugSep: 1.4 inSepOct: 3.6 inOctNov: 6.2 inNovDec: 7.4 inDecJan high: 43°FFeb high: 46°FMar high: 51°FApr high: 56°FMay high: 64°FJun high: 71°FJul high: 80°FAug high: 80°FSep high: 74°FOct high: 61°FNov high: 48°FDec high: 41°FJan low: 29°FFeb low: 30°FMar low: 32°FApr low: 35°FMay low: 41°FJun low: 46°FJul low: 51°FAug low: 51°FSep low: 46°FOct low: 39°FNov low: 33°FDec low: 28°F°Fin

Average of 36 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Baker County — 100/100
  2. Crook County — 100/100
  3. Deschutes County — 100/100
  4. Grant County — 100/100
  5. Harney County — 100/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Multnomah County — 89/100
  2. Clackamas County — 90/100
  3. Clatsop County — 90/100
  4. Columbia County — 90/100
  5. Coos County — 90/100

All 36 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
Baker County832081660May20100
Benton County82356511Apr1492
Clackamas County76311842May1690
Clatsop County72350552Apr1490
Columbia County78341592Apr1790
Coos County76371372Mar1390
Crook County832281770Jun20100
Curry County79372392Apr1490
Deschutes County812131910Jun20100
Douglas County81334661May1798
Gilliam County8727171120May1895
Grant County822051830Jun20100
Harney County8520121760Jun20100
Hood River County752701241May1892
Jackson County843010971May1798
Jefferson County842581470May20100
Josephine County83337741May1798
Klamath County812141920Jun20100
Lake County842081870Jun20100
Lane County78332702May1790
Lincoln County74360402Apr1390
Linn County79322792May1790
Malheur County8821231580May1896
Marion County79322722May1790
Morrow County8627141170May18100
Multnomah County79342533Apr1489
Polk County81344521Apr1692
Sherman County8627161120May20100
Tillamook County72350532Apr1490
Umatilla County8426101231May1898
Union County792221671Jun1898
Wallowa County792021771Jun2098
Wasco County832681260May18100
Washington County79342561Apr1792
Wheeler County832481480May20100
Yamhill County80353491Apr1692

Typical alpaca care calendar for Oregon

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

January 43° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 46° / 30°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 51° / 32°F

Vitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 56° / 35°F

  • 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 64° / 41°F

ShearingCria season
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • 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 71° / 46°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

July 80° / 51°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 80° / 51°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).
  • Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.

September 74° / 46°F

Breeding
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 61° / 39°F

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

November 48° / 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 41° / 28°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 Oregon

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Aug (breed in Jun–Sep).
  • Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
  • Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct (about 5 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
  • 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 Oregon

Laughing Alpaca Campground + RV Park
The Alpaca Group
Stoneberg AlpacasWebsite
Alpaca by Design
Columbia Mist Alpacas
Alpacas of Tualatin ValleyWebsite
Newport Alpaca Shop
Newport
Aragon Alpacas
EugeneWebsite
Laughing Alpaca Campground + RV Park

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Oregon?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Oregon scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are low selenium.
Which part of Oregon is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Baker County, Crook County and Deschutes County; the most challenging are Multnomah County, Clackamas County and Clatsop County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Oregon?
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 Oregon?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jun–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Oregon?
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.

Neighboring states

CaliforniaNevadaWashingtonIdahoUtahWyoming

See how these guides are calculated.