Sigmodon hispidus
Silhouette: Natasha Vitek · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a rat 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 distribution of S. hispidus ranges from Arizona in the west to Virginia to the east and from the Platte River in Nebraska in the north to, likely, the Rio Grande in the south, where it meets the northern edge of the distribution of S. toltecus (formerly S. h. toltecus). Adult size is total length 202–340 mm (8.0–13.4 in); tail 87–122 mm (3.4–4.8 in), frequently broken or stubbed; hind foot 29–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in); ear 16–20 mm (0.63–0.79 in); mass 50–250 g (1.8–8.8 oz). They have been used as laboratory animals.
The currently accepted scientific name for the hispid cotton rat is Sigmodon hispidus. It is a member of the family Cricetidae. Although 25 subspecies are accepted, including the type subspecies, the most distinct genetic subdivision within S. hispidus separates the species into two genetic lineages, an eastern one and a western... Wikipedia →
Recording0:07
United States · 2025
© Lukas Sotelo · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burgers' Ocean | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 2 | Royal Burgers' Zoo | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hispid Cotton Rat sighting in Everglades National Park on a given day, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 17 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March to May
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Hispid Cotton Rat in Everglades National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January and November, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Hispid Cotton Rat sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Yes
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Hispid Cotton Rat sightings, Everglades National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States, about 10%) and Big Cypress National Preserve (United States, about 10%).
Same order: Rodentia
The closest relatives of the Hispid Cotton Rat that you can see in Everglades National Park (order Rodentia, Rodents) are Eastern Gray Squirrel (about 20%) and Fox Squirrel (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hispid Cotton Rat is recorded against all the mammals logged in Everglades National Park (46 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
