How Do Rats Fit Through Small Holes?

Rats have a very small body, but they’re highly maneuverable, and they’re able to fit through small holes. In fact, they can fit through holes as small as 0.705 inches, which is smaller than the diameter of a dime. This ability allows rats to squeeze through smaller spaces and catch smaller animals.

The skeleton of rats and mice has evolved to allow them to fit through small gaps. Rats are able to compress their skeleton, collapsing their legs against their bodies, and splaying themselves flat. While these adaptations make them very maneuverable, they don’t collapse their ribcages, a trait that is essential for breathing.

Rats’ cylindrical bodies and firm bones allow them to squeeze through small holes. They are also very flexible, which makes them perfect for burrowing. In addition, because rats spend most of their lives in tiny spaces, they can easily fit through holes of similar sizes. They also have the ability to fit through narrow horizontal spaces.

Rats’ whiskers also help them gauge the size of holes. When a hole is large enough, they will poke their nose into it and determine if it is too small for them. If the hole is too small, they will try to squeeze through it with their body.