What you describe has nothing to do with Kangaroo Rats, the government was using them to harass people who were interfering with their political scheme. They clearly weren’t looking for the little critters, they haven’t been seen since 1967.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/10/kangaroo-rat-riverside-county-san-diego-zoo.html
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/05/01/Feds-end-endangered-rat-case-in-Calif/5756799300800/
Yeah, whatever...............