sweetcorn/rats

[Bren]

A couple of years ago I lost all mine to rats since then I put chicken wire around them once the cobs have started to form and so far have lost none only snag I can't weed them once the wire is in place.
This year I have the best crop ever.

Bren

[Primrose]

Rats are intelligent creatures, aren't they? Would it be possible to thread a piece of string through the bottle and tie it firmly to the main sweetcorn stalk?