After the flood, Yen Thanh people entered the season of catching field mice.

Professional rat catchers in Nghia Thai commune (Tan Ky) are preparing tools to trap rats in Yen Thanh district. Photo: Van Truong

These days, going to Yen Thanh district, day and night, you can see groups of people hunting rats in the fields. After the floods, the water in the fields rose, causingvolehave to go to the rice fields and high hills to dig holes to take shelter, this is also the time for rat hunters to "practice their profession".

Mr. Tran Manh Ninh in Nam Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) was hunting rats with a group of people in Ca Nghe field and said: When we had free time, we invited some brothers in the village to bring hoes, shovels and tools to catch rats to find food during the rainy season. Normally, there are many effective ways to catch field rats, such as walking along the edges of the fields to find holes, and when we find them, we dig them up and pour water into them or use burning straw to smoke the holes.

The smoke-suffocating mice could not stand it and rushed out of the line, and there were 3-4 people waiting to "catch" them and put them in baskets or sacks. Every time the mice ran out of their holes, the whole group of people cheered and chased them across the field, which was very funny. On this occasion, one could catch 5-6 kg of mice in one session. The mice were brought back to be butchered and processed into many attractive dishes.

At this time, all over the fields in the districtYen ThanhThere are quite a few professional groups of “rat hunters” who hunt through the night. They often catch a large number of rats, then take them to other provinces and cities for consumption.

A rat hunter in Tan Ky district checks rat traps in a field in Xuan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: Van Truong

Arriving at the fields of Xuan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) around 11 pm on October 25, we saw a group of people using traps to hunt rats, which seemed to be quite effective. Mr. Van Tuyen in Nghia Thai commune, Tan Ky district, was shining a flashlight on the field and said: Every day at around 4-5 pm, four of us were present in Yen Thanh district surveying the fields to set rat traps.

Mainly using semicircular clamp traps, consisting of 2 iron rings tightly woven together with a spring with great rebound at the bottom edge, when the mouse gets caught in the trap, it is often clamped across the neck. In addition, the trap is also equipped with a safety latch so that the user can fold the trap into a semicircle.

Rat trappers go through the night to catch rats in Yen Thanh district. Photo: Van Truong

However, according to Mr. Tuyen, to make the trap effective, the rat hunter must wade through the fields, find the paths and trails of the rats to set the traps. Specifically, if he can find the trails and footprints of the rats to set the traps, he will be 90% sure of catching the rats. Spread hundreds of rat traps across the fields, every hour or so, he will "visit" the traps, and if any are stuck, he will put them in a sack.

Following the footsteps of rat hunters in Nghia Thai commune (Tan Ky), it can be seen that every night, a lot of rats are trapped, from 30-40 kg. At dawn, traders come to the edge of the fields to buy them and take them to Hanoi at a price of 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg.

Mouse caught in a crescent-shaped trap. Photo: Van Truong

Through research, it is known that hunting mice overnight is very hard because this group of hunters also has to carry pots and pans to cook dinner right at the edge of the field. At night, the field is muddy, and when it rains and is cold, sometimes it is wet all night. However, for the sake of food and clothing, to have more money to support their lives, they still have to persevere with this job.

Rat catchers in Nghia Thai commune (Tan Ky) cook right on the edge of the field to spend the night catching rats. Photo: Van Truong

No one knows since when Yen Thanh district has been famous as a “rat meat” people. During the rat hunting season, many places in the village participate in catching rats. In addition to improving their family meals, Yen Thanh rat hunters also import this specialty to other provinces and cities across the country.

The spoils of war, field mice, were gathered in one place. Photo: Van Truong

According to traders, the largest number of rats sold to the Hanoi market, previously only cost 40,000 - 50,000 VND/kg, now it can reach up to 70,000 VND/kg. The price of rats has increased partly because consumers prefer them and field rats are brought to restaurants and hotels to be processed into unique and strange specialties...

Some restaurant owners in Yen Thanh district shared: Our restaurant does not specialize in rat meat, but when customers request this rat meat dish, we still buy it to prepare for them. When buying the rat, clean it, marinate it with five-spice powder, pepper, chili, lemongrass, sugar, and MSG. You can make many dishes such as grilled rat on hot coals, when it is golden brown and crispy, it is very delicious.

Results after 1 night of trapping. Photo: Van Truong

In addition, dishes such as salt-roasted rats, boiled rats pressed with lemon leaves, and stir-fried rats with lemongrass and chili are very popular with customers. The reason why more and more people like this rural specialty is becausevoleIn Yen Thanh district, people mainly eat natural foods from the fields, so they are fat and nutritious.

Fatty grilled field mouse dish. Photo: Contributor

Mr. Le Van Hong - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district added: The district has over 12,000 hectares of rice, and every year rats destroy a lot of crops. Therefore, catching field rats is beneficial, in addition to increasing income, it also helps protect crops, especially now preparing for the spring rice crop./.