Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse

San Francisco Bay's native salt marsh ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change and anthropogenic-related disturbances such as coastal erosion, invasive species, and local sea level rise. The salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), like many species that only live in these marshes, also faces the risk of extinction as its habitat is threatened by current and projected sea level rise. As salt marshes become increasingly inundated by rising waters in the bay, the loss of habitat has led to a drastic decrease in harvest mouse population size. Luckily, these tiny mammals (smaller than an adult’s thumb) are a hot topic for conservation biologists, and local research is already underway in order to determine the best strategies for their recovery. Conservation of harvest mouse populations is an important aspect of overall salt marsh ecology in San Francisco Bay, as the mice provide a link from plants to predators cycling energy throughout the ecosystem. Their favorite way to achieve this, is by nibbling on pickleweed, their plant of choice.