A _____ is defined as a long tubular handle with a thick retractable wire inside it.

A head snare is specifically designed for the safe capture or restraint of animals. Its construction features a long tubular handle that incorporates a thick retractable wire inside it. This design allows the user to extend the wire out, creating a noose at the end, which can then be tightened around an animal's head or neck when pulled. Head snares are particularly useful in veterinary settings for managing aggressive or frightened animals, as they provide control while minimizing stress for both the animal and the handler.

Other options, such as a catching hook, leash, and restraint collar, serve different purposes in animal handling and do not have the same structural design as a head snare. A catching hook, for example, is generally used to grab or control an animal from a distance without the same retractable mechanism. Leashes are primarily designed for guiding and controlling animals rather than for capture, while restraint collars are used to restrict movement but do not have the retractable wire feature that defines a head snare.