This is for Ice_The_Meowstic
I thought of a little backstory for your new animals

The technician looked from the files to the general.
"Sir, these animals, they are amazing. Already, they can solve simple math equations and have proven ability to solve complex puzzles."
"These are the mistakes?" The general asked.
"Ah, yes, sir. One of the lower geneticists introduced a plant gene by accident. It appears to have stabilized the species genes. The first generation have the shrubs on their backs." The tech opened a picture on the largest monitor.
"And the second?" The general asked.
"Yes. We modified the plant gene so that instead of expressing the bush on it's back, it expressed a bird gene. Wings." He opened another picture. "They are meant to accompany airborne troops to the ground."
"And the eyes?"
"An unexpected expression of the bird gene." The tech explained.
"What are their uses."
"Firstly, what we originally set out to do. Forward scouting and bomb sniffing. Keen eyes, sharp ears, good eyesight, great in the second generation. They also can hunt, and conceal themselves well. But we believe they have other abilities. More combat prone ones. Their tail." The tech showed the general a picture. "Not poisonous, but sharp, and deadly. Their fangs also contain ricin. One of the deadliest plant borne poisons."
"Are they intelligent?"
"Well, yes. The ones we have are still in their adolescence, so their brains aren't fully developed, but they appear to have developed their own form of communication as well as group ordering. A few of us believe they may come to rival human intelligence."
"I want them on a leash." The general said. "Something that gives us the ability to control them, or at least to kill them at a moments notice. If they are going to be as smart as us, I want to be able to control them."
"We could introduce a kill switch. But it will take time. And there may be other unexpected problems." The tech said.
"Get it done."
"Sir, did the acting general order this?"
"No. I did."