Objective To understand the ecological developmental characteristics of rats in the epidemic areas of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) so as to provide a basis for effective control of HFRS.Methods Based on the China National Disease Surveillance Reporting and Management System,data of HFRS cases from 2010 to 2014 were collected and analyzed by retrospective analysis.Meanwhile surveillance data of rats were collected and the capture rates in different seasons,genders and districts were also analyzed.Results Totally 51,92,129,85 and 71 cases of HFRS were reported from 2010 to 2014.Most HFRS cases occurred from October to November which were 43,59,78,37 and 37,respectively.Totally 2902 rats were captured from 2010 to 2014.The five-year average capture rate was 4.87％ (2902/59610).The highest capture rate was 6.94％ (910/13107) in the third quarter and the outdoor capture rate (5.80％,1681/28987) was higher than that of indoor(3.99％,1221/30623,x2 =324.35,P ＜ 0.05).More male rats were captured than female rats and the overall proportion was 62.82％ (348/554) and 37.18％ (206/554),respectively.The outdoor rats were mainly Apodemus agrarius (556),Cricetulus triton (432),Rattus noruegicus (217),Mus musculus (211) and Sorex araneus (139),and the indoor rats were mainly Mus musculus (514),Rattus noruegicus (469) and Sorex araneus (181).The black rat disappeared and White-bellied rat appeared.Conclusions The rat density keeps higher all year round and the type of rats has become increasingly complex.Mixed living of indoor and outdoor rats increased the infection probability of different types of Hantavirus,which has an immediate impact on the spreading pattern of HFRS.