Rat-catching, Mumbai, India

Rat-catchers would capture rats by hand, often with specially-bred vermin terriers, or with traps. Rats are rarely seen in the open, preferring to hide in holes, haystacks and dark locations. Payment would be high for catching and selling rats to breeders. A rat-catcher's risk of being bitten is high, as is the risk of acquiring a disease from a rat bite.
Modern methods of rat control include traps and poisoned bait, plus more holistic approaches such as introducing predators, reducing litter and the clearing of current or potential nest sites.