Climate snapshot for alpacas
100/100Alpaca climate comfort score
73°FAverage high, Aug
35°FAverage low, Dec
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~45Frost nights per year
28 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
13Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (8 months of grass growth)
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 100/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Warm-summer Mediterranean (Köppen Csb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 36°F | 3.4 in | 131 · ok | — |
| Feb | 49°F | 35°F | 2.5 in | 127 · ok | — |
| Mar | 53°F | 38°F | 2.7 in | 121 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 58°F | 41°F | 2.2 in | 116 · ok | grass |
| May | 63°F | 46°F | 1.9 in | 117 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 68°F | 50°F | 1.5 in | 117 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 73°F | 53°F | 0.8 in | 110 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 73°F | 53°F | 0.9 in | 121 · ok | grass |
| Sep | 68°F | 50°F | 1.4 in | 118 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 59°F | 44°F | 2.8 in | 120 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 51°F | 39°F | 4.0 in | 133 · ok | — |
| Dec | 46°F | 35°F | 3.5 in | 133 · ok | — |
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 Island County, Washington
January 46° / 36°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 49° / 35°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 53° / 38°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 58° / 41°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 63° / 46°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).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 68° / 50°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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 73° / 53°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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 73° / 53°F
- 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 68° / 50°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 59° / 44°F
- Secure winter hay: about 13 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 51° / 39°F
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 46° / 35°F
- 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–Jul (breed in May–Aug).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: Mar–Oct (about 8 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
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 80 km (50 miles). Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krystal Acres Alpaca Farm | visitor farm | 36 mi | — |
| Alpaca Country Store | shop | 36 mi | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Island County, Washington?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Island County, Washington scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are low selenium.
When should alpacas be shorn in Island 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 Island County, 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 Island County, Washington?
With roughly 4 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 632 lb (287 kg) — around 13 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 48.159, -122.671 · land area 208 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Washington.