A comparative study on species composition, distribution and habitat association of rodents inrnforest and farmlands was carried out around Tepi, from August, 2009 to March, 2010. Fiverndifferent types of habitats were randomly selected comprising natural forest, bushland, sugarcanernplantation, coffee plantation and maize-sorghum farmland. In each habitat type, a representativerntrapping grid was randomly selected for live-trapping. In addition, rodents were trapped fromrneach habitat by snap-trapping. The following nine species of small mammals were trapped fromrnthe area: Stenocephalemys albipes (37.38%), Mastomys natalensis (20.56%), Arvicanthisrndembeensis (11.99%), Lophuromys flavopunctatus (9.34%), Lemniscomys striatus (8.43), Musrnmusculus (6.59%), Mastomys erythroleucus (4.36%), Crocidura fumosa (0.93%) and Crocidurarnniobe (0.31%). The distribution of rodent species varied from habitat to habitat. S. albipes, M.rnnatalensis and A. dembeensis were widely distributed in all habitat types. L. flavopunctatus wasrnthe least distributed rodent species. There was statistically significant variation in the abundancernof rodents among the different habitat types and between seasons. There was significant variationrnin trap success among different habitat types. All age groups from all species were represented.rnBreeding of rodents was seasonal during the study period. There was high population of rodentsrnin the first trapping session of wet season and least in the second trapping session of dry season.rnThe population density of rodents was high in the bushland and least in the coffee plantation.rnThe highest population density (422/ha) was contributed by S. albipes, followed by M. natalensisrn(216/ha). The biomass of rodents in the present study area varied among the habitats andrntrapping sessions. The stomach content of rodents was mostly plant matters and few animalrnmatters. The three rodent species (M. natalensis, A. dembeensis and M. musculus) were identifiedrnas pests of maize. S. albipes, M. natalensis and A. dembeenis were identified as pests ofrnsugarcane plantation. Vegetation cover, rainfall and human interference were the major factorsrnaffecting the abundance and distribution of rodents in the study area.rnKey words: Pest management, species diversity, rodent.