What is the term for catching mice? - briefly
The activity is called mouse trapping. It is a specific form of rodent control.
What is the term for catching mice? - in detail
The activity of capturing mice is commonly referred to as mouse trapping. In professional pest‑management literature the phrase “rodent trapping” is used when the target includes mice and other small rodents, while “mouse capture” appears in scientific studies describing experimental procedures.
Mouse trapping can be classified by mechanism:
- Snap traps – spring‑loaded devices that deliver a rapid kill.
- Live‑catch traps – cages that hold the animal unharmed for later release.
- Glue boards – adhesive surfaces that immobilise the rodent.
- Electronic traps – circuits that administer a lethal shock.
- Poison baits – anticoagulant or neurotoxic compounds placed in feeding stations; technically a form of lethal control rather than mechanical trapping.
Each method has specific terminology:
| Mechanism | Formal term | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical kill | snap trap | residential infestations |
| Non‑lethal containment | live‑catch trap | research, humane removal |
| Adhesive immobilisation | glue board | short‑term control in concealed areas |
| Electrical termination | electronic trap | commercial settings requiring rapid turnover |
| Toxicant delivery | bait station | large‑scale eradication programs |
Regulatory documents, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s pest‑control guidelines, use the term rodent control to encompass all strategies, including trapping, baiting, and habitat modification. In academic journals, the phrase mouse capture appears in methodological sections describing the collection of specimens for laboratory analysis.
Synonyms encountered in industry manuals include rodent capture, mouse removal, and pest trapping. The choice of term often reflects the intended outcome—lethal elimination versus humane relocation—and the regulatory context governing the practice.