Mice can get through a 1/4" wide gap. My Father in Law was a pest controller, and the " thickness of a pencil" was his favourite adage. Every now and again I make a post about vermin control. Mice and indeed rats, can infest your storage in no time flat. Forget cats( we have two, and they ain't efficient )and even traps. Poison 'em. Get proper enclosed bait stations and place them along the edges of the walls of your storage area. Check the poison everyday , top up, and keep doing so until the bait stops disappearing. After that keep the stations down permanently. Prevention is better than cure.ukpreppergrrl wrote:Surely if it's an old wive's tale that should be a 1/4 inch hole?
Also, make sure all your foodstuffs are in sealed containers, and have a good tidy/sweep up. At all times, do not forget to wash your hands as not only is the poison harmful, but so are mice droppings and urine. They can cause Weils Disease; and it ain't nice. I caught it when I was 17 and I damn near died.
You can get bait and stations at Wilko, DIY chains or good old fashioned hardware shop if you are still lucky enough to have one.