An exterminator is a professional who removes unwanted pests from buildings and properties. When a house has mice in the walls, termites eating the wooden beams, or cockroaches in the kitchen, families call an exterminator to solve the problem. Exterminators use special knowledge about pest behavior, chemical treatments, traps, and prevention methods to eliminate infestations and keep them from coming back.

An exterminator might lay bait for rats, spray for ants, or set up barriers to keep termites away from a home's foundation.

Some exterminators now call themselves pest control specialists because modern pest management focuses on solving problems with minimal environmental impact. They don't just kill pests; they also identify why pests arrived in the first place and help prevent future problems. A skilled exterminator knows the habits of hundreds of different insects and animals, understands building construction, and can spot tiny clues that reveal where pests are hiding or how they're getting inside.