Even larger rodents, such assquirrels, can fit through surprisingly small gaps.
These animal contortionists can easily fit through any unprotected ventilation holes in your roof eaves.
The answer is to cover the holes with a bang out of metal mesh calledhardware cloth.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
hardware cloth is fairly rigid mesh with heavy-gauge wire that is not easily damaged by animals.
This will keep out pests without restricting airflow through the vent holes.
Buy hardware cloth with 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch openings.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
Hardware cloth also comes in 1/2-inch mesh, but that is too large for barring rodents.
Inspect the holes with a flashlight to confirm they are clear of nest material or other obstructions.
If necessary, clean out the holes to ensure proper airflow.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
Measure the area to determine how much hardware cloth you’ll need.
The mesh should extend at least 1inch beyond the edges of the holes.
Whenever possible, cut closely along the side of a wire to prevent having edges with sharp protruding ends.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
Wear gloves to protect your hands from the sharp metal.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
