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placed on any California clapper habitat in the past and no such restriction has been instituted since. The California clapper rail was reclassified as a geographically distinct species in 1880. The clapper rail (Rallus obsoletu3) is one of the largest species of the genus that extends to South America. The rail has a hen -like appearance, strong legs with long toes, a long slightly decurved bill, and white undertail feathers. Rails 1 typically occur in salt water marshes dominated by pickelweed J and cordgrass. Loss of habitat throughout its salt marsh range Figure 2 - California is the main factor in the reduction in the number of California Clapper Rail (Rallus clapper rails. The rail is secretive, but once flushed, can be longirostris obsoletus) approached easily. They are described as tolerant of human beings. Rails consume the introduced horse mussel, spiders, clams, and yellow shore crabs. With a stabilizing habitat picture, the main factor in mortality is predation. The recovery plan for the California clapper rail states that, "(A)dult clapper rails are taken by several avian predators including the northern harrier, red - tailed hawk and peregrine falcon. Downey young and eggs are also vulnerable to predation by Norway rats." The salt marsh harvest mouse (Reitbrodontomjs raviventrie) is a small native rodent found in the marshes of Corte Madera, Richmond and South San Francisco Bay. Salt marsh harvest mice are critically dependent on dense cover and their preferred habitat is pickleweed (Salicornia virginica). Harvest mice are seldom found in cordgrass or alkali bulrush. In marshes with an upper zone of salt - tolerant plants, mice use this vegetation to escape the higher tides. Mice also move into the adjoining grasslands during the highest winter tides. Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) Salt marsh harvest mice probably live on leaves, seeds and stems of plants and drink brackish water. In winter, they seem to prefer fresh green grasses. The rest of the year, they tend toward pickleweed and saltgrass. They swim very well. 25