Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mid-Atlantic

Raising Alpacas in West Virginia

West Virginia has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 84°F in July and winter lows average 23°F in January, with about 46 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

73/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
84°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
23°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~11Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~113Frost nights per year (state average)
46 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.455°2.872°4.290°5.6Jan: 3.5 inJanFeb: 3.1 inFebMar: 4.1 inMarApr: 3.9 inAprMay: 4.8 inMayJun: 4.7 inJunJul: 4.9 inJulAug: 3.9 inAugSep: 3.7 inSepOct: 3.2 inOctNov: 3.0 inNovDec: 3.7 inDecJan high: 40°FFeb high: 44°FMar high: 53°FApr high: 66°FMay high: 74°FJun high: 81°FJul high: 84°FAug high: 83°FSep high: 77°FOct high: 66°FNov high: 54°FDec high: 44°FJan low: 23°FFeb low: 25°FMar low: 31°FApr low: 40°FMay low: 49°FJun low: 58°FJul low: 62°FAug low: 61°FSep low: 54°FOct low: 42°FNov low: 33°FDec low: 27°F°Fin

Average of 55 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 (Apr–Oct)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Pocahontas County — 85/100
  2. Greenbrier County — 81/100
  3. Pendleton County — 81/100
  4. Preston County — 81/100
  5. Tucker County — 81/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Boone County — 65/100
  2. Braxton County — 65/100
  3. Cabell County — 65/100
  4. Calhoun County — 65/100
  5. Clay County — 65/100

All 55 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
Barbour County822271187Apr1473
Berkeley County8723201117Apr1469
Boone County852514957Apr1365
Braxton County8524151057Apr1465
Brooke County8421101176Apr1475
Cabell County872523947Apr1265
Calhoun County8523161097Apr1465
Clay County8524151017Apr1365
Doddridge County8522151157Apr1465
Fayette County822361087Apr1477
Gilmer County8523171107Apr1465
Grant County832081316May1475
Greenbrier County802131255Apr1481
Hampshire County8622161197Apr1469
Hancock County832191185Apr1477
Hardy County8421111267Apr1473
Harrison County8422131147Apr1469
Jackson County8624171037Apr1465
Jefferson County8723201067Apr1469
Kanawha County862518957Apr1265
Lewis County8523141107Apr1465
Lincoln County872524927Apr1265
Logan County862617927Apr1265
Marion County8422101157Apr1469
Marshall County8421101176Apr1475
Mason County8624191017Apr1465
McDowell County8424111057Apr1469
Mercer County822351127Apr1477
Mineral County8622181197Apr1469
Mingo County862621907Apr1265
Monongalia County832281176Apr1475
Monroe County832371127Apr1473
Morgan County8623181157Apr1469
Nicholas County812251147Apr1477
Ohio County842191186Apr1475
Pendleton County812041345May1481
Pleasants County8522151137Apr1465
Pocahontas County771911435May1485
Preston County802031315May1481
Putnam County872522967Apr1265
Raleigh County812351117Apr1477
Randolph County781911405May1479
Ritchie County8522161137Apr1465
Roane County8524161057Apr1465
Summers County832481077Apr1473
Taylor County832291147Apr1473
Tucker County781921435May1481
Tyler County8522151147Apr1465
Upshur County822261157Apr1473
Wayne County872523947Apr1265
Webster County802131215Apr1475
Wetzel County8422121177Apr1469
Wirt County8523161097Apr1465
Wood County8623171067Apr1465
Wyoming County832491047Apr1473

Typical alpaca care calendar for West Virginia

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

January 40° / 23°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° / 25°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 53° / 31°F

Frost
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 66° / 40°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • 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.

May 74° / 49°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 81° / 58°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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 84° / 62°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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 83° / 61°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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 77° / 54°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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 66° / 42°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.

November 54° / 33°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 44° / 27°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 West Virginia

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 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 West Virginia

Double 8 Alpaca RanchWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in West Virginia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. West Virginia scores 73/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of West Virginia is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Pocahontas County, Greenbrier County and Pendleton County; the most challenging are Boone County, Braxton County and Cabell County.
When should alpacas be shorn in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
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.
How hot does it get for alpacas in West Virginia?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 11 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

KentuckyNorth CarolinaOhioVirginiaAlabamaIndiana

See how these guides are calculated.