Hispid Cotton Rat

Common Name
Hispid Cotton Rat
Order
Rodentia
Family
Cricetidae
Species Name
Sigmodon hispidus
Status
Lower Risk (nt) as S. h. eremicus and S. h. insulicola, otherwise Lower Risk (lc)
States
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
North Carolina
Nebraska
New Mexico
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia

Distribution

SE USA, from S Nebraska to C Virginia and south to SE Arizona and peninsular Florida; NW Chihuahua to N Tamaulipas, south through interior Mexico at least to C Zacatecas and W San Luis Potosi

Notes

Mainly crepuscular, but can be active at any time. Broad distribution, abundance and daytime activity make this one of the more conspicuous small rodents. Habitat is tall-grass prairies, meadows, agricultural areas and oldfields; favors areas with dense v
Georgia
Prob most abundant mammal in GA; destroys eggs & garden crops