The distribution of the SAN bernardino kangaroo RAT (dipodomys merriami parvus, sbkr) is limited to three extantisolated populations found in SAN bernardino and riverside counties

Habitat loss and degradation are the drivingfactors of sbkr decline. As natural disturbances such as flooding have been removed or dramatically altered, theearly successional stage of alluvial fan sage scrub on which sbkr depends upon continues to degrade and maturescrub and non-native grasslands become more pervasive. Recovery actions call for conserving and restoring bothoccupied habitat and potentially suitable habitat, improving connectivity to maintain and restore smallpopulations, and investigating population reestablishment and augmentation as tools to increase abundance andexpand the distribution of sbkr. The proposed research would 1) evaluate habitat management techniques andidentify the most suitable protocols for sbkr habitat restoration, 2) assess the efficacy of different types ofstructural connectivity and identify treatments that promote sbkr movement between habitat patches, and 3)develop and implement a collaborative translocation receiver site evaluation and prioritization process. Througha series of habitat manipulations, the project will evaluate the response of the vegetation community, sbkr, andthe small mammal community to each habitat restoration treatment. By the end of the project period, the projectwill create 16 acres of restored habitat, multiple connections between occupied habitat and restored areas, andidentify best practices and feasibility of each technique to inform and assist landowners in implementing habitatmanagement to increase occupancy and abundance of sbkr, and connectivity of the habitat on which the speciesdepends. The receiver site evaluation process will result in a prioritized list of 4 sites for populationestablishment, with specific management actions to improve each for sbkr, and a structured and repeatable processto evaluate future sites. Research will be conducted by the SAN diego ZOO wildlife alliance (SDZWA), led by DRS.rachel chock and debra shier who have a combined 40 years of heteromyid experience, research on behavioralecology and habitat use, and have led a collaborative receiver site prioritization process for the pacific pocketmouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus). KAI palenscar and the SAN bernardino valley municipal water district(SBVMWD), along with betsy miller and milan mitrovich of the SAN bernardino valley water conservation district(SBVWCD) will collaborate on site selection and habitat manipulation techniques. Field work will be conducted inthe santa ANA river wash in SAN bernardino county, california (CA).