Rodent control with wax-opener vent?

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by tropterrarium

Thanks for all the brainstorming.

-Exclusion is not a viable option. I live in a rather rural area with deer in backyard.

Vent area is large 7x3' single pane glass. So a hardware cloth box, while doable, is just ugly. Try to avoid that.

I've been thinking about this:
Wire Rope Aviary Mesh Creates a Closed and Ecologically Friendly Space

but 20 mm mesh length = 80 mm edge length, divided by pi = 25 mm diameter. Rat gets through 20 mm, mice through 6-7 mm hold.

Have also been considering chainmail, as in medieval armor. Wonder whether that is too restrictive for airflow.

Any other options?

Are you certain? A rural setting sounds perfect for what I had in mind. If a rodent had to crawl/climb through a 3' deep forest of peppermint to get in the opening, odds are it would choose to go elsewhere.