Statewide snapshot
71/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
78°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
8°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~1Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~172Frost nights per year (state average)
46 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 14 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
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan–Feb
- Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient
Most alpaca-friendly counties
- Essex County — 74/100
- Lamoille County — 74/100
- Orleans County — 74/100
- Addison County — 71/100
- Bennington County — 71/100
Most challenging counties
- Caledonia County — 68/100
- Washington County — 68/100
- Addison County — 71/100
- Bennington County — 71/100
- Chittenden County — 71/100
All 14 counties
Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.
| County | Peak high | Lowest low | Days ≥90°F | Frost nights | Worm months | Shear | Hay bales | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addison County | 80 | 9 | 2 | 168 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Bennington County | 77 | 10 | 1 | 175 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Caledonia County | 77 | 5 | 1 | 182 | 5 | May | 16 | 68 |
| Chittenden County | 79 | 9 | 2 | 162 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Essex County | 76 | 4 | 1 | 185 | 4 | May | 17 | 74 |
| Franklin County | 78 | 8 | 1 | 163 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Grand Isle County | 80 | 9 | 3 | 153 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Lamoille County | 76 | 6 | 1 | 176 | 4 | May | 16 | 74 |
| Orange County | 78 | 7 | 1 | 178 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Orleans County | 76 | 5 | 1 | 178 | 4 | May | 17 | 74 |
| Rutland County | 79 | 9 | 1 | 173 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Washington County | 77 | 7 | 1 | 178 | 5 | May | 16 | 68 |
| Windham County | 79 | 11 | 2 | 170 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Windsor County | 79 | 9 | 2 | 175 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
Typical alpaca care calendar for Vermont
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 27° / 8°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 30° / 9°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 38° / 18°F
- 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.
April 52° / 30°F
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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.
May 65° / 42°F
- 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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 74° / 51°F
- 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 78° / 56°F
- 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 76° / 54°F
- 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 69° / 47°F
- 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 56° / 37°F
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Secure winter hay: about 16 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).
November 43° / 27°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 32° / 16°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 for Vermont
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 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 Vermont
Walden Mountain Alpaca FarmWebsite
Skyeview Alpacas
ElkinsWebsite
ElkinsWebsite
Domaine des Nobles AlpagasWebsite
Vermont Alpaca Store
QuecheeWebsite
QuecheeWebsite
Alpagas Sutton
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Vermont?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Vermont scores 71/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Vermont is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Essex County, Lamoille County and Orleans County; the most challenging are Caledonia County, Washington County and Addison County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Vermont?
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 Vermont?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jun. For births then, breed females in Jun–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Vermont?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Vermont?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 1 days a year above 90°F (32°C).