Kangaroo Rats
kqed.org
kqed.org
The could come setup at my house in rural New Mexico, we've got scads of the little ninjas here. They've cost me about two grand in repair work on my pickup truck so far, nesting in the engine compartment, nibbling on the wires. I've tried to keep them away with sprays and an electronic gadget, but so far no luck. Next up, a cat, but outdoor cats don't last long here. It's the coyote homeland.
They also managed to get into my travel trailer and poop in it, despite all I've done to try and seal it. I can testify that they are hardy, persistent and clever little devils. But after they've caused enough damage they seem a lot less cute.
If you're resorting to killing them, I've found a 5-gallon bucket half filled with water containing a small bait-carrying raft to be quite effective. I just leave a 2x4 ramp to the bucket edge, they jump in for the food, the raft immediately sinks, and the walls are too high for escape.
Hot pepper spray on the wiring harnesses seemed to solve most of it. At first I bought a hot spray at farm store but it was really expensive and gone quickly so I made my own.
The commercial spray was essentially hot pepper extract and glycerin and kerosene (or some solvent, smelled like diesel). I bought several big bags of dried long hot peppers (in New Mexico these should be available), soaked them in acetone, evaporated most of the acentone, mixed in some glycerin (from pharmacy suppositories.. I honestly don't know what the purpose of glycerin is other than the commercial spray had it). Then diluted with rubbing alcohol. I also added a little peppermint oil which I understand mice dislike. Worked really well fwitw and spraying this all over the wire harnesses several times a year stopped the problem.
Getting a cat solved the problem permanently though without spray. But now there are less birds about as well.
Deep Look - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-3SbfTPJsL8fJAPKiVqBLg
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their web strands come out of their feet.
but seriously, legs of all sorts are fascinating in their composition and specialization (i may be biased since i studied biomechanics). we all have the same basic components (long bones, joints, muscles, tendons/ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels) in similar configurations, but can still have wide latitude in specialization.
robotics still has much to learn from biology in this regard.
Their tails make distinct drag marks in the sand, which makes it pretty easy to identify their burrows and other areas of activity.
We had a new cat within a day or two.