Species Information
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
| Status |
Endangered Species  Endangered Species: species that have a very small population and are at risk of extinction in the wild. |
| Listed | October 13, 1970 |
| Family |
Muridae (Mice and Rats) |
| Description | Small buff and brown mouse |
| Habitat | Saline or brackish marshes |
| Food | Frogs, newts, toads and fish |
| Reproduction | Litter of four |
| Threats |
Loss of wetlands, habitat fragmentation, vegetation changes |
| Range | California |
| Status |
Endangered Species: species that have a very small population and are at risk of extinction in the wild. |
| Listed | October 13, 1970 |
| Family |
Muridae (Mice and Rats) |
| Description | Small buff and brown mouse |
| Habitat | Saline or brackish marshes |
| Food | Frogs, newts, toads and fish |
| Reproduction | Litter of four |
| Threats |
Loss of wetlands, habitat fragmentation, vegetation changes |
| Range | California |
The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) is a rodent species found in coastal wetlands of California and northern Mexico. This mouse is a small, slender rodent with a long tail and rounded ears. They have a light brown to dark gray fur, with a white belly and underside of the tail. The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is most active at night (nocturnal).
The mouse lives in coastal wetlands and salt marshes where it feeds on grasses, seeds and insects. They build nests in the grasses and in shallow burrows, where it is well-protected from predators. The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is also an excellent swimmer and can easily cross water channels.
The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is an important species to the coastal wetlands of California and northern Mexico, as they help to control the populations of certain insect species. The mouse is also a valuable source of food for other animals, including the endangered San Joaquin kit fox.