Hispid cotton rats occupy thick grass, weedy field edges, and moist lowland cover, especially across central and eastern Kansas. Konza Prairie and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve protect suitable grassland mosaics, but dense vegetation and secretive habits make direct sightings uncommon.
The 5,298 GBIF records strongly influence its second-place rank; the 99 iNaturalist observations better reflect how rarely casual observers document it. Kansas records are year-round but rise sharply from July through October, consistent with warm-season breeding and growing late-summer populations.
Full species profile
