It was therefore suggested that avian predators are more important than mammalian predators. Hispid cotton rats occupy a wide variety of habitats within their range but are not randomly distributed among microhabitats. Habitat use and preference by hispid cotton rats usually appears to depend on the density of monocots. For example, hispid cotton rats may respond favorably to a high percentage of dicots in a stand if cover remains optimal. Male hispid cotton rats exhibit a lower degree of habitat selectivity than females.
Habitat use varies with season and breeding status.
In Kansas prairies hispid cotton rats occur at relatively high abundance in ungrazed uplands and sandy mixed-grass native prairie, but also prefer disturbed areas. In Louisiana and Mississippi hispid cotton rats were more numerous in cut than in uncut bottomland hardwoods. The mean hispid cotton rat population density range for all studies was 5.3 to 31.1 rats per hectare. Patches were established by mowing strips between blocks of grasses. In Texas male hispid cotton rats also had larger home ranges than females.