Can rats really fit through a hole the size of a quarter?
Small rats can, large rats cannot. A quarter is just under an inch in diameter (0.96 inches). Not all rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. Large rats and overweight rats are too big. But some rats are small enough to fit through — especially juvenile rats. The smallest diameter hole a small rat might fit through is an important consideration when rat-proofing an outdoor structure against wild rats, and when choosing a cage which will house baby rats. Generally, wire mesh with 1″ x 1″ holes is considered too large a spacing for young rats, while 1″ x 1/2″ and smaller dimensions are narrow enough to keep even the smallest rats inside. For rat-proofing an outdoor enclosure the recommendation is usually 1/2″ x 1/2″ mesh or smaller. Do rats ever get stuck? Yes, occasionally. I have seen it happen once myself. Two of my rats, Widget and Snip, were in a cardboard nestbox together. They got into a fight — I heard the shrieks and thumps and saw the box shaking and bouncing. Then
