Climate snapshot for alpacas
84/100Alpaca climate comfort score
24°CAverage high, Jul
-14°CAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~188Frost nights per year
495 mmAnnual precipitation
4Barber pole worm months
17Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan–Mar
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 84/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Warm-summer humid continental (Köppen Dfb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5°C | -14°C | 17 mm | 105 · ok | frost |
| Feb | -2°C | -13°C | 25 mm | 107 · ok | frost |
| Mar | -1°C | -13°C | 18 mm | 107 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 10°C | -2°C | 23 mm | 110 · ok | frost |
| May | 18°C | 6°C | 64 mm | 126 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 20°C | 9°C | 114 mm | 133 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jul | 24°C | 13°C | 66 mm | 145 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 23°C | 11°C | 81 mm | 143 · ok | worms, grass |
| Sep | 19°C | 8°C | 22 mm | 131 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 11°C | 0°C | 22 mm | 121 · ok | — |
| Nov | 1°C | -6°C | 16 mm | 109 · ok | frost |
| Dec | -1°C | -9°C | 28 mm | 111 · 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: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at 52.3°, -113.8°, elevation 853 m.
Alpaca care calendar for Alberta, Canada
January -5° / -14°C
- 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 -2° / -13°C
- 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 -1° / -13°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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.
April 10° / -2°C
- 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 18° / 6°C
- 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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 20° / 9°C
- 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 24° / 13°C
- 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.
- 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.
August 23° / 11°C
- 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).
September 19° / 8°C
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 11° / 0°C
- 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 1° / -6°C
- 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 -1° / -9°C
- 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: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Aug (breed in Jun–Sep).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Aug — 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–Sep (about 5 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Alberta, Canada 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 Alberta, Canada?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Alberta, Canada scores 84/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
When should alpacas be shorn in Alberta, Canada?
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 Alberta, Canada?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jun–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Alberta, Canada?
With roughly 7 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 833 lb (378 kg) — around 17 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Coordinates 52.300, -113.800. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.