I wouldn't do it for rodents.

I had one episode where I got "sloppy" when I didn't think I had - my food and smellibles were hung up, but I left my alcohol bottles (small nalgenes) out, so just left them sitting on the ground, thinking nothing would bother them, clean bottles full of methanol.

In the morning the little buggers had chewed on the bottles, probably out of curiosity or salt craziness, and all my methanol had leaked out the holes. Fortunately for me I was where I could make a fire in the morning to heat my breakfast (and the nalgenes burned well <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) - an alky stove doesn't work well without alky.

If they can chew through a nalgene they'll chew through a plastic paint can - metal
probably not, but at that point you might as well carry a bear canister.

Get an ursack or hang it.