Could you catch a rat with your bare hands?

Chasing rats and catching [music] them, Chasing rats and catching [music] them, sometimes with just your bare hands, sometimes with just your bare hands, sometimes with just your bare hands, used to be a job. In the 1800s, American used to be a job. In the 1800s, American used to be a job. In the 1800s, American cities were growing like gangbusters, cities were growing like gangbusters, cities were growing like gangbusters, [music] and rats spread fast through [music] and rats spread fast through [music] and rats spread fast through crowded neighborhoods. By the 1840s, crowded neighborhoods. By the 1840s, crowded neighborhoods. By the 1840s, newspapers were advertising local rat newspapers were advertising local rat newspapers were advertising local rat catchers ready to take on the growing catchers ready to take on the growing catchers ready to take on the growing mischief of rodents. mischief of rodents. mischief of rodents. Fun fact, a mischief is the actual term Fun fact, a mischief is the actual term Fun fact, a mischief is the actual term [music] for a group of rats. [music] for a group of rats. [music] for a group of rats. Rats have been a public health threat Rats have been a public health threat Rats have been a public health threat for centuries, so catching became for centuries, so catching became for centuries, so catching became serious business. Rat catchers went serious business. Rat catchers went serious business. Rat catchers went wherever the rats were, basements, wherever the rats were, basements, wherever the rats were, basements, [music] [music] [music] alleys, even sewers. They waited in the alleys, even sewers. They waited in the alleys, even sewers. They waited in the dark wearing slippers to stay silent, dark wearing slippers to stay silent, dark wearing slippers to stay silent, [music] and caught their victims with [music] and caught their victims with [music] and caught their victims with long tongs, and sometimes even just long tongs, and sometimes even just long tongs, and sometimes even just their hands. They also used traps, their hands. They also used traps, their hands. They also used traps, special tinctures, and other animals as special tinctures, and other animals as special tinctures, and other animals as hunting buddies. Ferrets were common, as hunting buddies. Ferrets were common, as hunting buddies. Ferrets were common, as well as small terriers trained to catch well as small terriers trained to catch well as small terriers trained to catch rats. rats. rats. An experienced hunter could nab up to An experienced hunter could nab up to An experienced hunter could nab up to 100 rats in an hour. [music] 100 rats in an hour. [music] 100 rats in an hour. [music] Cities relied on the catchers. In New Cities relied on the catchers. In New Cities relied on the catchers. In New York, the mayor even exempted a top rat York, the mayor even exempted a top rat York, the mayor even exempted a top rat catcher from jury duty because his catcher from jury duty because his catcher from jury duty because his service was so valuable. [music] By the service was so valuable. [music] By the service was so valuable. [music] By the early 20th century, the job started to early 20th century, the job started to early 20th century, the job started to formalize into an industry, and rat formalize into an industry, and rat formalize into an industry, and rat catchers, those gritty freelancers catchers, those gritty freelancers catchers, those gritty freelancers [music] of the 1800s, became the [music] of the 1800s, became the [music] of the 1800s, became the predecessors of the professionalized predecessors of the professionalized predecessors of the professionalized pest control we know today.