[HN Gopher] Kangaroo Rats
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Kangaroo Rats
Author : sohkamyung
Score : 75 points
Date : 2020-03-02 05:13 UTC (17 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (www.kqed.org)
(TXT) w3m dump (www.kqed.org)
| rurp wrote:
| These amazing little guys are a blast to watch out in the desert;
| I've seen a number of them in the Mojave.
|
| Their tails make distinct drag marks in the sand, which makes it
| pretty easy to identify their burrows and other areas of
| activity.
| dilipray wrote:
| Apple team will copy this, please get it IP Protected. Don't be
| another Alfred.
| teddyh wrote:
| Wrong thread?
| clairity wrote:
| wow that's faster than zion williamson on a put-back dunk!
|
| 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.
| hirundo wrote:
| > The team hiked the cameras and infrared lights, along with the
| heavy 12-volt car batteries that power them, into far corners of
| the deserts near Mojave, California and Yuma, Arizona. Once set
| up, they waited -- often for hours without luck.
|
| 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.
| pengaru wrote:
| They're adorable as far as rodents go, but I've had to kill my
| share of them for similarly refusing to leave my automobiles
| alone.
|
| 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.
| mythrwy wrote:
| Similar problem in rural area. Mice and kangaroo rats eating
| vehicle wiring.
|
| 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.
| Pfhreak wrote:
| Muad'Dib is wise in the ways of the desert. Muad'Dib creates his
| own water. Muad'Dib hides from the sun and travels in the cool
| night. Muad'Dib is fruitful and multiplies over the land.
| Muad'Dib we call 'instructor-of-boys.' That is a powerful base on
| which to build your life.
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(page generated 2020-03-02 23:01 UTC)