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dominated by pickelweed and cordgrass. Loss of habitat throughout its salt marsh <br /> range is the main factor in the reduction in the number of California clapper rails. <br /> The rail is secretive, but once flushed, can be approached easily. They are described <br /> as tolerant of human beings. Rails consume the introduced horse mussel, spiders, <br /> clams, and yellow shore crabs. With a stabilizing habitat picture, the main factor in <br /> mortality is predation. The recovery plan for the California clapper rail states that, <br /> "(A)dult clapper rails are taken by several avian predators including the northern <br /> harrier, red-tailed hawk and peregrine falcon. Downey young and eggs are also <br /> vulnerable to predation by Nonvay rats." <br /> The salt marsh harvest mouse (Keithrodonto�nys raviventris) � �- <br /> is a small native rodent found in the marshes of Corte �:� � <br /> Madera, Richmond and South San Francisco Bay. Salt marsh <br /> harvest mice are critically dependent on dense cover and <br /> thei� preferred habitat is pickleweed (Salicornia virginica). M <br /> Harvest mice are seldom found in cordgrass or alkali i <br /> bulrush. In marshes with an upper zone of salt-tolerant Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse <br /> plants, mice use this vegetation to escape the higher tiCles. (Reithrodontomys <br /> Mice also move into the adjoining grasslands during the raviventris) <br /> highest winter tides. <br /> Salt marsh harvest mice probably live on leaves, seeds and stems of plants and <br /> drink brackish water. In winter, they seem to prefer fresh green grasses. The rest of <br /> the year, they tend toward pickleweed and saltgrass. They swim very well. <br /> 25 <br />