Mammal
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys raviventrisAlso known as Red-bellied Harvest Mouse
The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is a tiny brown rodent with a relatively long tail, grooved upper incisors, and often a cinnamon-toned belly. It climbs marsh vegetation above high water and depends on dense, connected tidal cover.
Salt Marsh EndemicSmall RodentTidal Specialist
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySmall insects
Predators
- Owls
- Herons
- Foxes
ThreatsMarsh loss, sea-level rise, blocked habitat migration, flooding, predators, and invasive plants
HabitatsTidal salt marsh, pickleweed cover, high-marsh refuges, and connected brackish vegetation
Life spanShort-lived, commonly around one year and seldom more than two
Classification
- FamilyCricetidae
- SpeciesReithrodontomys raviventris
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Do not enter dense marsh cover or publish precise encounter locations.
- What to notice
- A very small brown mouse with grooved incisors and a long tail may show a cinnamon or reddish belly.
- Support conservation
- Never trap or pursue it; remain on designated access routes and conceal precise observation coordinates.
Responsible observation
- Distance: Observe marsh habitat from established levees or boardwalks.
- Privacy: Generalize locations before sharing records publicly.
- Habitat: Keep pets out of high-tide refuge vegetation.
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