Cotton Rats are called so, because they build their nests using cotton. They live in the open meadow, bushes, bank of lakes and canals and agricultural cultivations, but prefer cotton fields, either on the surface of the ground or a narrow burrow in the field. They are also found around estates and houses where food is found in abundance.
| Common name | Cotton Rat |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sigmodon Hispidus |
| Weight | Approximate 100 to 225 grams |
| Length | Head and body approximate 15 to 20 cm |
| Tail length | 10 to 13 cm |
| Droppings | Scattered, oval shaped, approximate 75cm long |
| Sexual maturity | 2-5 months |
| Habitat | Hiding grassy field, brushy pastures, canal banks and road sides. |
| Life span | 2-5 years |
LIFE CYCLE:When a female mouse gets pregnant, it only takes between 19 and 21 days for her to give birth to a litter. Each litter typically consists of five or six mouse pups. A typical female mouse can birth between five and 10 liters per year. The pups are born without fur, ears or the ability to see. They are blind and defenseless .On the fourth day, their ears are fully developed. Hair begins to grow around the sixth day, and by day 10 they have a protective coat of fur. The pups still won’t open their eyes until around day 13 or 14 but after that, they are almost fully-grown adults. On the twenty-first day, weaning occurs and they reach minimum adult size by about 41 days. They weigh appx.100 to 225 grams. The Head and Body length is appx.15 to 20 cm and the Tail length appx.10 to 13 cm. The mother mouse nurses her pups for 21 days. She can mate immediately after giving birth, second litter in as little as 25 days after the first. This cycle continues until the mouse dies. Its droppings are Scattered, Oval shaped measuring approximate 75 cm long. Cotton Rats have plump bodies, small ears and the color of both sexes consists of a mixture of tan, brown. The black fur on their dorsal parts gives them a hispid appearance. The under parts are white to grayish. The tail is sparsely haired and considerably shorter than the combined length of the head and the body. The Maximum lifespan of a Cotton Rat is up to Two to Five Years.
