In the San Francisco Estuary when any project is undertaken that result in impacts to coastal marsh, extensive avoidance and minimization measures for sensitive habitat and species are always required. However, due to the highly variable and dynamic nature of the system, practical implementation is often left somewhat flexible. Unfortunately, the suite of recommended measures have gone largely untested for efficacy for the salt marsh harvest mouse. This leaves questions as to which methods are effective and optimal under different conditions. Here we present a discussion of considerations when selecting an exclusion fence type and present the results of a field study of the efficacy of different tape types in serving as an unclimbable barrier for fence tops. Native salt marsh harvest mice and invasive house mice were both tested on five different types of tape. Recommended fence type (e.g. plastic mesh vs. silt) depends largely on project length and fence placement, and while all tape types tested were effective in preventing climbing by rodents, considerations such as project length and weather should be taken into account when making a selection. We recommend further investigation into the efficacy and optimization of other avoidance measures such as vegetation clearing.