Climate snapshot for alpacas
91/100Alpaca climate comfort score
90°FAverage high, Jul
27°FAverage low, Dec
~28Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~100Frost nights per year
8 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
22Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul
- Dry climate — only 8 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
- Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 91/100 — 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 | 40°F | 28°F | 1.2 in | 124 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 46°F | 29°F | 0.8 in | 125 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 56°F | 34°F | 0.7 in | 124 · ok | — |
| Apr | 64°F | 39°F | 0.7 in | 123 · ok | — |
| May | 73°F | 47°F | 0.8 in | 127 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 80°F | 53°F | 0.6 in | 129 · caution | — |
| Jul | 90°F | 59°F | 0.2 in | 127 · caution | — |
| Aug | 88°F | 58°F | 0.2 in | 136 · caution | — |
| Sep | 79°F | 50°F | 0.3 in | 129 · caution | — |
| Oct | 64°F | 40°F | 0.7 in | 125 · ok | — |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 1.0 in | 131 · ok | — |
| Dec | 39°F | 27°F | 1.3 in | 127 · 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 Benton County, Washington
January 40° / 28°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 46° / 29°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).
March 56° / 34°F
- 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 64° / 39°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.
May 73° / 47°F
- 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).
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Secure winter hay: about 22 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 80° / 53°F
- 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.
July 90° / 59°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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 88° / 58°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
September 79° / 50°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 64° / 40°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 49° / 32°F
- 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 39° / 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).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul.
- 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: May (about 1 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Benton County, Washington 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 Benton County, Washington?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Benton County, Washington scores 91/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, dry climate and low selenium.
When should alpacas be shorn in Benton County, Washington?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Benton County, Washington?
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 Benton County, Washington?
With roughly 11 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 1,100 lb (499 kg) — around 22 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Benton County, Washington?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul. We estimate about 28 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 46.228, -119.517 · land area 1,700 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Washington.