Statewide snapshot
91/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
83°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
12°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~6Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~202Frost nights per year (state average)
16 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
0Barber pole worm months (state average)
17Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 23 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.
Statewide challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb
Most alpaca-friendly counties
- Laramie County — 96/100
- Platte County — 96/100
- Converse County — 94/100
- Albany County — 91/100
- Big Horn County — 91/100
Most challenging counties
- Sublette County — 85/100
- Teton County — 85/100
- Crook County — 86/100
- Niobrara County — 86/100
- Sweetwater County — 86/100
All 23 counties
Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.
| County | Peak high | Lowest low | Days ≥90°F | Frost nights | Worm months | Shear | Hay bales | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | 79 | 13 | 2 | 213 | 0 | Jun | 17 | 91 |
| Big Horn County | 83 | 10 | 6 | 191 | 0 | May | 18 | 91 |
| Campbell County | 86 | 12 | 15 | 189 | 2 | May | 16 | 87 |
| Carbon County | 81 | 13 | 3 | 204 | 0 | Jun | 17 | 91 |
| Converse County | 85 | 14 | 11 | 192 | 0 | May | 17 | 94 |
| Crook County | 85 | 11 | 11 | 191 | 3 | May | 17 | 86 |
| Fremont County | 81 | 10 | 3 | 209 | 0 | Jun | 18 | 91 |
| Goshen County | 88 | 15 | 23 | 185 | 2 | May | 16 | 89 |
| Hot Springs County | 84 | 12 | 7 | 193 | 0 | May | 18 | 91 |
| Johnson County | 83 | 13 | 7 | 193 | 1 | Jun | 17 | 89 |
| Laramie County | 85 | 16 | 11 | 190 | 2 | May | 16 | 96 |
| Lincoln County | 79 | 8 | 1 | 231 | 0 | Jun | 17 | 91 |
| Natrona County | 85 | 14 | 10 | 191 | 0 | Jun | 18 | 91 |
| Niobrara County | 88 | 12 | 21 | 188 | 3 | May | 16 | 86 |
| Park County | 76 | 11 | 0 | 221 | 1 | Jun | 17 | 89 |
| Platte County | 87 | 16 | 18 | 184 | 2 | May | 16 | 96 |
| Sheridan County | 82 | 12 | 5 | 195 | 1 | Jun | 17 | 89 |
| Sublette County | 76 | 3 | 1 | 254 | 0 | Jun | 18 | 85 |
| Sweetwater County | 84 | 10 | 8 | 206 | 0 | Jun | 20 | 86 |
| Teton County | 73 | 7 | 0 | 248 | 0 | Jun | 18 | 85 |
| Uinta County | 80 | 10 | 2 | 220 | 0 | Jun | 17 | 91 |
| Washakie County | 86 | 11 | 14 | 185 | 1 | May | 18 | 89 |
| Weston County | 87 | 11 | 16 | 190 | 3 | May | 17 | 86 |
Typical alpaca care calendar for Wyoming
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 33° / 12°F
- 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 36° / 13°F
- 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 46° / 21°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.
April 53° / 28°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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 63° / 37°F
- 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 74° / 45°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.
- 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 83° / 52°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 81° / 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.
September 71° / 41°F
- 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.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 56° / 30°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).
November 43° / 20°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.
December 33° / 12°F
- 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).
Key recommendations for Wyoming
- Shearing: June.
- 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: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Freezing nights: Oct–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 is not established in this region.
- Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.
Alpaca farms & shops in Wyoming
No alpaca farms in Wyoming are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Wyoming?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Wyoming scores 91/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
Which part of Wyoming is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Laramie County, Platte County and Converse County; the most challenging are Sublette County, Teton County and Crook County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Wyoming?
Plan shearing for June, 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 Wyoming?
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 Wyoming?
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.