Hispid Cotton Rat

Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is in the Hamsters, Voles, Lemmings, and Allies family (Cricetidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,723 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Hispid Cotton Rat: observations by month (U.S.)

About Hispid Cotton Rat

The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a rodent species long thought to occur in parts of South America, Central America, and southern North America. However, recent taxonomic revisions, based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data, have split this widely distributed species into three separate species (S. hispidus, S. toltecus, and S. hirsutus). The southern edge of the S. hispidus distribution is likely near the Rio Grande, where it meets the northern distribution of S. toltecus (formerly...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Hispid Cotton Rat by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related mammals (Hamsters, Voles, Lemmings, and Allies)

MuskratOndatra zibethicus

White-footed MousePeromyscus leucopus

Eastern Meadow VoleMicrotus pennsylvanicus

Western Deer MousePeromyscus sonoriensis

California VoleMicrotus californicus

Dusky-footed WoodratNeotoma fuscipes

Bushy-tailed WoodratNeotoma cinerea

Photography tips

• Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
• Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
• Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.

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