A "rustler" is a person who illegally steals or drives cattle, often associated with the American West during the 19th century. Rustling was a significant issue for ranchers, as it threatened their livelihoods and led to conflicts between cattle owners and thieves. The term is often linked to the cowboy culture and the lawlessness of frontier life. Rustlers typically operated in groups and used various tactics to evade capture, such as disguising themselves or moving cattle to remote areas. The practice of rustling has been romanticized in popular culture, appearing in movies, books, and songs that depict the rugged life of the cowboy and the challenges of ranching.