Scavengers

Yeah.Thats an awesome idea. Stack your chests somewhere high or protected

The idea is appealing. I would set the spawning rate and probability relatively low, though.

Also it raises the need for some kind of protection. Simply adding chest locks would not be enough, as mice can easily make holes into the wood, if something attracting is inside. Also placing chests in places inconvenient for humans is often no barrier: living in the countryside, I can assure you that they find a way to get there even in the most strange places.

Then? Some horrid chemical? magic spells? rely on metal chests?

We would need some simple chests then I think. Because I have no idea how they are supposed to open these chests:

Hm, maybe Why not wait for manufacturer skill levels to be added, chest made with a low level could then easely be broken by rats, while advanced ones could not

Hopefully they will mess only with wooden chests because If they eat up my wooden mansion,I will be really upset haha!

Haha.I will keep that in mind!!

If a spoil feature was added to picked vegetables and meat I could see that being useful to say dropping things in a compost heap would keep them away from other storage devices, as would having an out door trash can of some kind. A way of feeding them afar to keep them from coming indoors that and a cat to eat them up if they get to close.

I don't wish for that but if they spawn wherever there is dirt / sand aka non blocks are would be fine.
I wish a lot of things with animals
I think we all know that each entity animal will have an AI eventually.

It be more funny if the Racoon went after you Christmas Presents.