Species · GBIF taxon 2438147
Hispid Cotton Rat
Sigmodon hispidusAlso known as Cotton Rat, Common Cotton Rat
Hispid cotton rats are stocky, aggressive rodents that cut intricate, two-inch-wide runway networks through dense, tall grasses to travel safely between feeding sites. Active day and night, these prolific foragers feed heavily on green vegetation, seeds, and insects, serving as a vital prey base for North American raptors and carnivores. Their populations fluctuate dramatically in multi-year cycles, occasionally resulting in massive local irruptions that reshape local plant communities.
TerrestrialProlificHerbivorous
- diet
- Herbivorous (primarily grasses, sedges, seeds, and occasionally insects or bird eggs)
- family
- Cricetidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and extreme winter weather
- life Span
- 6 months to 1 year in the wild
LC
Can bite defensively and carry pathogens; observe from a distance and do not handle.
Can carry Black Creek Canal virus (a type of hantavirus) and may deliver a painful bite if cornered or handled.
Never attempt to catch or corner wild rodents, and wear gloves if cleaning areas where they have nested.- Look for Runways: Search for narrow, cleared paths about two inches wide cut through dense, tall grass.
- Listen for Rustling: Sit quietly near overgrown fields to hear them scurrying through the undergrowth during the day.
- Keep Your Distance: Avoid handling wild rodents to prevent defensive bites and exposure to zoonotic diseases.