I love inkberry! It's one of my favorite hollies, plus it's a native species. It's a very handsome shrub, and not prickly like other hollies. It's of great value for birds and bees:

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ILGL

I agree that you would be highly unlikely to have a rodent issue because of it. They are also deer and rabbit resistant -- a huge plus.

I would just make sure you get the right variety for size -- and obviously plant it on center to allow for its mature growth -- you don't want to have to keep up a rigid pruning schedule because the variety was too big and/or planted too closely together to allow for mature growth in your space.

http://landscaping.about.com/od/Holly/p/inkberry-holly.htm

Inkberry is an excellent choice. It doesn't litter the ground with fruit like a crab apple for example.

Truly the rats have so much more easier and attractive sources of food. They don't want to work for it and are probably happily chowing down in someone's uncovered trash can or dumpster left open.

we are in the process of finalizing some landscaping plans for our yard. The archtitect recommends Inbkerry bushes. If I understand this correctly that we would need to plant both male and female varieties in order for them to have berries. I know the local birds like the berries so thats a plus but would the berries attract rats. We live in the rowhouse in the city.