Even just some steel wool pressed into the edges of where you caulk to hold on chicken wire should prevent rodents from trying to chew through the caulk. Any how, good luck! I hope you can get it sorted without too much trouble!

If you want to go the extra mile (and without seeing the gap it's hard to say if you need to but) stuff any holes with steel wool and seal with caulk on the edges, then a layer of chicken wire if desired, and finish (if needed) with plaster/drywall/whatever. That will stop anything!

Caulk would be the sealant of choice if you don’t have a staple gun—cheap and easy to apply.

Hhm... yeah. I hope it comes together and we get some news soon!

Should still have some at MFF!

Also, you can pick up one of these vinyl stickers, truly my magnum opus

Okay, not to be THAT GUY but Arches does sell sheets with deckled edges. They're large tho, but it's easy to uh-- "deckle" them yourself to whatever size you want if you have a heavy t-square or on the arm of a matboard cutter. I did this a lot for small intaglio prints.

Oh, and expanding on making patches/dif merch items -- don't worry about it. If people like the art, they'll just want it more ways. "Exclusivity" in the art/print world comes from the circumstances of the run itself (signed, numbered, the paper, size, etc.) Just don't do an identical reprint.

Realistically, the exclusivity comes from the limited # print run and not reprinting. I'd say offer mixed blind bag packs of the extras couple times a year, and just clarify your sticker club language in the future to say something like "small limited run, will not be reprinted."