Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Pacific

Raising Alpacas in Washington

Washington has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb): summer highs average 78°F in August and winter lows average 28°F in December, with about 46 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

96/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
78°FAverage high, Aug (state average)
28°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~2Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~110Frost nights per year (state average)
46 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
2Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.035°2.050°4.065°6.080°7.9Jan: 6.7 inJanFeb: 4.6 inFebMar: 5.0 inMarApr: 3.6 inAprMay: 2.6 inMayJun: 2.0 inJunJul: 0.8 inJulAug: 0.9 inAugSep: 1.9 inSepOct: 4.4 inOctNov: 6.9 inNovDec: 6.8 inDecJan high: 39°FFeb high: 44°FMar high: 50°FApr high: 56°FMay high: 64°FJun high: 70°FJul high: 78°FAug high: 78°FSep high: 71°FOct high: 58°FNov high: 45°FDec high: 38°FJan low: 28°FFeb low: 29°FMar low: 32°FApr low: 36°FMay low: 42°FJun low: 47°FJul low: 52°FAug low: 52°FSep low: 47°FOct low: 39°FNov low: 32°FDec low: 28°F°Fin

Average of 39 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. Chelan County — 100/100
  2. Island County — 100/100
  3. Kittitas County — 100/100
  4. Klickitat County — 100/100
  5. Lincoln County — 100/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Clark County — 89/100
  2. Cowlitz County — 90/100
  3. Grays Harbor County — 90/100
  4. Jefferson County — 90/100
  5. King County — 90/100

All 39 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 County8724201320May2095
Asotin County8525131301May1898
Benton County9027281000Apr2291
Chelan County752101640May20100
Clallam County69330731May1492
Clark County80343523Apr1489
Columbia County832671251May1798
Cowlitz County76331672May1490
Douglas County8521131420May1895
Ferry County791821801May1898
Franklin County8927261050Apr2091
Garfield County842691231May1898
Grant County8924251260May2491
Grays Harbor County74340602Apr1490
Island County73350450Apr13100
Jefferson County693001012May1690
King County73310832May1490
Kitsap County76351471Apr1498
Kittitas County792321510May18100
Klickitat County842691240May18100
Lewis County75300972May1490
Lincoln County8522131570May18100
Mason County75320752May1490
Okanogan County771811750May18100
Pacific County73340562Apr1490
Pend Oreille County782011791May1798
Pierce County73300962May1690
San Juan County72360420Mar16100
Skagit County722901031May1692
Skamania County732801151May1692
Snohomish County72300961May1692
Spokane County842481450May18100
Stevens County822161622May1896
Thurston County78341612Apr1696
Wahkiakum County73340562Apr1490
Walla Walla County892828920Apr1792
Whatcom County712701260May1694
Whitman County8626161220May18100
Yakima County812441460May20100

Typical alpaca care calendar for Washington

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

January 39° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 44° / 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).

March 50° / 32°F

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

April 56° / 36°F

Cria season
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • 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 64° / 42°F

ShearingWorm seasonCria 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.
  • 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 70° / 47°F

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • 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° / 52°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).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 78° / 52°F

Breeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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.

September 71° / 47°F

  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 58° / 39°F

Vitamin D
  • 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 45° / 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 38° / 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 Washington

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jul (breed in May–Aug).
  • Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Jun — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — 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 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 Washington

The Alpaca Group
Stoneberg AlpacasWebsite
Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm
Columbia Mist Alpacas
Marketso Alpaca Ranch
Andina Alpacas
Alpaca Country Store
Alpacas of Tualatin ValleyWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Washington?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Washington scores 96/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are low selenium.
Which part of Washington is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Chelan County, Island County and Kittitas County; the most challenging are Clark County, Cowlitz County and Grays Harbor County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Washington?
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 Washington?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jul. For births then, breed females in May–Aug (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Washington?
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.

Neighboring states

IdahoOregonAlaskaCaliforniaMontanaNevada

See how these guides are calculated.