Climate snapshot for alpacas
87/100Alpaca climate comfort score
92°FAverage high, Jul
21°FAverage low, Dec
~43Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~126Frost nights per year
10 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
20Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Aug
- Dry climate — only 10 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 87/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 21°F | 0.9 in | 112 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 47°F | 26°F | 0.9 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 57°F | 32°F | 0.8 in | 125 · ok | — |
| Apr | 65°F | 38°F | 0.6 in | 122 · ok | — |
| May | 75°F | 47°F | 0.7 in | 120 · ok | — |
| Jun | 87°F | 56°F | 0.3 in | 115 · ok | — |
| Jul | 92°F | 63°F | 0.9 in | 114 · ok | — |
| Aug | 89°F | 61°F | 1.2 in | 123 · caution | grass |
| Sep | 81°F | 53°F | 1.1 in | 113 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 67°F | 41°F | 1.1 in | 114 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 53°F | 30°F | 0.7 in | 116 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 41°F | 21°F | 0.9 in | 100 · ok | frost |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for San Juan County, Utah
January 41° / 21°F
- 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 47° / 26°F
- 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 57° / 32°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 65° / 38°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
May 75° / 47°F
- 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.
- 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.
June 87° / 56°F
- 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.
July 92° / 63°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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 89° / 61°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 81° / 53°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 67° / 41°F
- Secure winter hay: about 20 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 53° / 30°F
- 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 41° / 21°F
- 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
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–May (breed in May–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Feb — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Aug–Oct (about 3 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
- Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near San Juan County, Utah are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in San Juan County, Utah?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. San Juan County, Utah scores 87/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in San Juan County, Utah?
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 San Juan County, Utah?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–May. For births then, breed females in May–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in San Juan County, Utah?
With roughly 9 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 967 lb (439 kg) — around 20 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in San Juan County, Utah?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 43 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 37.603, -109.792 · land area 7,820 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Utah.