Local alpaca guide · Wyoming

Raising Alpacas in Campbell County, Wyoming

Campbell County, Wyoming has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk): summer highs average 86°F in July and winter lows average 12°F in January, with about 15 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are hard winters.

Climate snapshot for alpacas

87/100Alpaca climate comfort score
86°FAverage high, Jul
12°FAverage low, Jan
~15Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~189Frost nights per year
15 inAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year

Main challenges

  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb

Advantages

  • Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
  • Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
  • Low meningeal worm risk

Overall rating: 87/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).

Month-by-month climate

Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.050°2.070°3.090°4.0Jan: 0.4 inJanFeb: 0.6 inFebMar: 0.9 inMarApr: 1.8 inAprMay: 2.8 inMayJun: 2.3 inJunJul: 1.6 inJulAug: 1.1 inAugSep: 1.1 inSepOct: 1.3 inOctNov: 0.6 inNovDec: 0.5 inDecJan high: 34°FFeb high: 36°FMar high: 48°FApr high: 55°FMay high: 65°FJun high: 77°FJul high: 86°FAug high: 85°FSep high: 74°FOct high: 59°FNov high: 45°FDec high: 35°FJan low: 12°FFeb low: 14°FMar low: 23°FApr low: 30°FMay low: 39°FJun low: 48°FJul low: 55°FAug low: 53°FSep low: 43°FOct low: 31°FNov low: 21°FDec low: 13°F°Fin
MonthHighLowPrecip.Heat-stress indexNotes
Jan34°F12°F0.4 in107 · okfrost
Feb36°F14°F0.6 in103 · okfrost
Mar48°F23°F0.9 in110 · okfrost
Apr55°F30°F1.8 in109 · okfrost
May65°F39°F2.8 in115 · okworms, grass
Jun77°F48°F2.3 in110 · okworms, grass
Jul86°F55°F1.6 in115 · okgrass
Aug85°F53°F1.1 in121 · cautiongrass
Sep74°F43°F1.1 in105 · okgrass
Oct59°F31°F1.3 in99 · okgrass, frost
Nov45°F21°F0.6 in103 · okfrost
Dec35°F13°F0.5 in88 · okfrost

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 Campbell County, Wyoming

January 34° / 12°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • 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° / 14°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • 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 48° / 23°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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 55° / 30°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.

May 65° / 39°F

ShearingWorm seasonCria 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.
  • 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 77° / 48°F

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • 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 86° / 55°F

Breeding
  • 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 85° / 53°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.

September 74° / 43°F

  • 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 59° / 31°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • 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 45° / 21°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.

December 35° / 13°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • 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

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Jun — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Oct–Apr — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 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.

Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.

Alpaca farms & shops nearby

No alpaca farms near Campbell County, Wyoming 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 Campbell County, Wyoming?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Campbell County, Wyoming scores 87/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
When should alpacas be shorn in Campbell County, Wyoming?
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 Campbell County, Wyoming?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jun. For births then, breed females in Jun–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Campbell County, Wyoming?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.

Nearby counties

Coordinates 44.192, -105.517 · land area 4,802 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Wyoming.