Climate snapshot for alpacas
91/100Alpaca climate comfort score
85°FAverage high, Jul
14°FAverage low, Jan
~10Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~191Frost nights per year
12 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
18Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Feb
- Dry climate — only 12 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 91/100 — 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 | 33°F | 14°F | 0.5 in | 106 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 35°F | 15°F | 0.6 in | 102 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 46°F | 23°F | 0.9 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 54°F | 29°F | 1.5 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| May | 64°F | 38°F | 2.2 in | 113 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 76°F | 46°F | 1.4 in | 109 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 85°F | 54°F | 1.0 in | 114 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 83°F | 52°F | 0.7 in | 119 · ok | — |
| Sep | 72°F | 43°F | 1.0 in | 102 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 57°F | 32°F | 1.2 in | 97 · ok | frost |
| Nov | 43°F | 22°F | 0.6 in | 101 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 33°F | 14°F | 0.5 in | 86 · 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: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Natrona County, Wyoming
January 33° / 14°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 35° / 15°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° / 23°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 54° / 29°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 64° / 38°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 76° / 46°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 85° / 54°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).
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Secure winter hay: about 18 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 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).
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 72° / 43°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- 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 57° / 32°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° / 22°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° / 14°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
- 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–Jul, Sep (about 4 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 Natrona 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 Natrona County, Wyoming?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Natrona County, Wyoming scores 91/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Natrona County, 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 Natrona County, 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 Natrona County, Wyoming?
With roughly 8 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 900 lb (408 kg) — around 18 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 42.978, -106.768 · land area 5,341 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Wyoming.