hispid cotton rat

The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a rodent found in the southern and central United States, with its range extending to northern South America. These stout-bodied animals have coarse, grizzled coats of dark brown mixed with buff or grayish hairs, small ears, and they inhabit grasslands, marshes, and cultivated fields with dense vegetation.12

Hispid cotton rats build nests on the ground or in burrows and primarily eat green vegetation, though their diet can include insects, crayfish, and occasionally eggs and chicks of birds. They are prolific breeders, producing multiple litters per year, and can become agricultural pests, particularly in sugarcane and vegetable crops. Due to their widespread presence and manageable size, hispid cotton rats are often used as animal models in medical research for infectious diseases like polio and influenza.12