Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mid-Atlantic

Raising Alpacas in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 83°F in July and winter lows average 19°F in January, with about 45 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

77/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
83°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
19°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~6Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~133Frost nights per year (state average)
45 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.350°2.570°3.890°5.1Jan: 3.2 inJanFeb: 2.6 inFebMar: 3.6 inMarApr: 3.8 inAprMay: 4.0 inMayJun: 4.4 inJunJul: 4.4 inJulAug: 4.0 inAugSep: 4.3 inSepOct: 3.9 inOctNov: 3.3 inNovDec: 3.5 inDecJan high: 35°FFeb high: 38°FMar high: 47°FApr high: 60°FMay high: 71°FJun high: 78°FJul high: 83°FAug high: 81°FSep high: 74°FOct high: 62°FNov high: 50°FDec high: 40°FJan low: 19°FFeb low: 20°FMar low: 27°FApr low: 37°FMay low: 47°FJun low: 56°FJul low: 60°FAug low: 59°FSep low: 52°FOct low: 41°FNov low: 32°FDec low: 24°F°Fin

Average of 67 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–Sep)
  • 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. Bradford County — 81/100
  2. Cambria County — 81/100
  3. Cameron County — 81/100
  4. Clearfield County — 81/100
  5. Crawford County — 81/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Philadelphia County — 65/100
  2. Delaware County — 67/100
  3. Montgomery County — 67/100
  4. Adams County — 71/100
  5. Berks County — 71/100

All 67 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 County8622141146Apr1471
Allegheny County8421101165Apr1473
Armstrong County831981355May1477
Beaver County832091195Apr1473
Bedford County8420101295May1473
Berks County8621141186Apr1471
Blair County821961355May1477
Bradford County801631505May1481
Bucks County8622151136Apr1471
Butler County831981315May1477
Cambria County801731445May1481
Cameron County811641515May1481
Carbon County811741445May1477
Centre County811841375May1477
Chester County8622161096Apr1471
Clarion County821851435May1477
Clearfield County811741465May1481
Clinton County821751435May1477
Columbia County821861375May1477
Crawford County811741405May1481
Cumberland County8622141126Apr1471
Dauphin County8421101165Apr1473
Delaware County872519916Apr1367
Elk County801631545May1481
Erie County801831365May1481
Fayette County822061285Apr1477
Forest County801731485May1481
Franklin County8622141166Apr1471
Fulton County8521131226Apr1471
Greene County832191206Apr1471
Huntingdon County842091255Apr1473
Indiana County821851385May1477
Jefferson County801731475May1481
Juniata County8421101185Apr1473
Lackawanna County801631475May1481
Lancaster County8622141126Apr1471
Lawrence County831991295May1473
Lebanon County8421101185Apr1473
Lehigh County8620141256Apr1471
Luzerne County811731435May1481
Lycoming County821751455May1477
McKean County791521615May1678
Mercer County821861385May1477
Mifflin County842081245Apr1477
Monroe County811731465May1481
Montgomery County8723191066Apr1467
Montour County841981325May1477
Northampton County8519111305May1473
Northumberland County832081295May1477
Perry County8422101145Apr1473
Philadelphia County872521897Apr1365
Pike County811631495May1481
Potter County801521615May1678
Schuylkill County821951335May1477
Snyder County842081255Apr1477
Somerset County791821445May1481
Sullivan County781511545May1681
Susquehanna County801531535May1481
Tioga County801531595May1678
Union County831971315May1477
Venango County821851405May1477
Warren County801631515May1481
Washington County832191205Apr1473
Wayne County801531565May1478
Westmoreland County832071265Apr1473
Wyoming County811631465May1481
York County8522141136Apr1471

Typical alpaca care calendar for Pennsylvania

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

January 35° / 19°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 38° / 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).

March 47° / 27°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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 60° / 37°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • 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 71° / 47°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 78° / 56°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 83° / 60°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° / 59°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 74° / 52°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 62° / 41°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 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 50° / 32°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° / 24°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 Pennsylvania

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — 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 Pennsylvania

Lazy Meadows Alpaca fiber mill and store
Wine Country Alpacas
North East
Mountain Edge Alpacas
Boalsburg
Graceful Glen's Alpacas
Illusion Ranch Alpacas
Alpaca Power Plant
Alpacas of Sunshine FarmWebsite
Scotia Acres Alpacas
LumbertonWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Pennsylvania scores 77/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Pennsylvania is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Bradford County, Cambria County and Cameron County; the most challenging are Philadelphia County, Delaware County and Montgomery County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 6 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

New JerseyOhioVirginiaConnecticutIndianaMaryland

See how these guides are calculated.