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By 1975, hispid cotton rats were known from 6 counties in Nebraska-1 in the extreme southeastern corner and 5 in south-central parts of the state (Farney 1975). The northernmost locality was from Kearney County in 1966 and the westernmost was from Harlan County in 1973 (Farney 1975). At many former sites, S. hispidus was captured in roadside ditches with dense or tall vegetation, including brome (Bromus), foxtail (Setaria lutescens), sunflower (Helianthus), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum; Jones 1960, Farney 1975). Both abiotic and biotic environmental pressures have been suggested as factors that limited movements of S. hispidus farther northward (Sauer 1983, Benedict et al. 2000). During the last 30 years in Nebraska, at least 20 native species of mammals have expanded their distribution in the state (e.g., Benedict et al. 2000, Roehrs and Genoways 2004, Serbousek and Geluso 2009), but others have contracted their ranges (Benedict et al. 2000). Although S. hispidus was last documented moving northward in the 1970s, Benedict et al. (2000) did not report a change in its distribution. A lack of change suggests that the distribution of S. hispidus has been stable since the 1970s, the species may be locally extinct, or researchers have not trapped in appropriate habitats in southern parts of the state. The main purpose of our study was to determine the current status of the hispid cotton rat in Nebraska. Herein, we also comment on its distribution, reproductive biology, and seasonal activity in the state.