Rat-catcher

A rat-catcher is a person who kills or captures rats as a professional form of pest control.

Keeping the rat population under control was practiced in Europe to prevent the spread of diseases, most notoriously the Black Death, and to prevent damage to food supplies.

[1] Rat-catchers may attempt to capture rats themselves, or release "ratters", animals trained or naturally skilled at catching them.

Modern methods of rat control include traps, poisoned bait, introducing predators, reducing litter, smoke machines, and clearing of current or potential nest sites.

Rats are rarely seen in the open, preferring to hide in holes, haystacks and dark locations.