 In Florida, hispid cotton rats are common in sabal palm ("Sabal palmetto")-coconut palm ("Cocos nucifera") savanna.In the Southeast, hispid cotton rats prefer grassy understories of fire-maintained
loblolly pine-shortleaf pine ("Pinus taeda"-"P. echinata") and longleaf pine-slash pine ("P. palustris"-"P. elliottii") stands.In Florida, sand pine ("P. clausa") scrub has been invaded by hispid cotton rats for short periods.