A number of years ago I was involved with an exhibition of a typical,
traditional (Mexican) kitchen. Some real food was included (rice, corn) to
add authenticity to the display. We took some precautions in preparing the
stuff to make it as unpalatable as possible which included drying,
spraying, and adding a smattering of poison. While this was effective
for keeping mice away (at least we didn't see any), it didn't stop the
bugs. We had to change the stuff frequently and eventually gave up because
of the potential risk to collections. I would recommend keeping a close
look-out for pests other than mice - especially if other sensitive
collections are nearby (clothing, textiles, etc.)

Bill Low

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