31.07.25
Over the past two years, a disturbing trend has emerged across the UK. Our precious wildlife has increasingly become victim to the misuse of catapults and crossbows, often at the hands of teenagers and children.
During this time we have been working with partners to address this violence to animals and we are aware that wildlife rescue centres nationwide are continuing to report a worrying surge in reports and admissions involving injured swans, birds, squirrels, hedgehogs, and even domestic pets, such as cats and dogs, all suspected to have been harmed or killed by catapults and crossbows. Many of these injuries are deliberate, raising serious concerns about cruelty to animals, as well as the ease with which young people can obtain and use these devices.
Catapults
Once considered a humble childhood toy, the modern catapult is far from harmless. Offering high-powered force and using steel ball bearings or other hard projectiles, catapults are often used to purposely inflict serious harm to animals. Despite this, and the risk they pose to humans too, catapults remain completely unregulated, with no minimum age for purchase and few safeguards in place to prevent their misuse.
Crossbows
There are more restrictions for crossbows, due to the Crossbows Act 1987, and it is an offence to sell, hire (with a draw weight of 1.4 kilograms or greater), to persons under the age of 18 in England, Wales, and Scotland. However, according to the government website, “As there is no requirement for the registration of purchasing a crossbow, it is not possible to estimate how many crossbows might be in circulation in England, Wales and Scotland” (1)
It is concerning that this number is not known, with crossbows being high-powered weapons that again, pose risks to humans and animals alike, if misused.
With hundreds, maybe thousands, of animals already being killed, or injured and left to die due to these devices, it is time to end this cruelty.
Naturewatch Foundation is taking a stand against this cruel wildlife trend and is calling for urgent action on several fronts to address the issue of catapult misuse* and its devastating impacts.
Target crime, not wildlife – what we will be doing
- Responsible retailing – Retailers also play a crucial role. Naturewatch Foundation is urging stores, both physical and online, to adopt voluntary policies to prevent the sale of catapults to individuals under 18. Just as responsible retailers already regulate the sale of knives or solvents, they can help reduce access to these harmful weapons among young people by enforcing age checks and removing catapults from toy categories. We have already contacted Amazon UK, requesting that they reconsider selling high-powered catapults due to the harms they cause.
- Stronger police response – Naturewatch Foundation is advocating for better police training and clearer guidelines on when and how to intervene. Education and enforcement must go hand in hand, recognising when a young person may benefit from intervention and when prosecution is necessary to prevent further harm.
- Youth education and behaviour change – In addition to enforcement, Naturewatch Foundation is exploring educational tools aimed at helping young people understand the consequences of harming wildlife. Changing behaviour starts with awareness, and this can be achieved by engaging schools, youth groups, and community leaders. With education, Naturewatch Foundation hopes to create a shift in how young people view and use catapults.
- Partnerships with wildlife rescues – Wildlife rescues are at the forefront of this crisis. Naturewatch Foundation aims to work closely with these organisations to raise awareness of the work that these often small and volunteer-staffed organisations conduct, and to distribute educational materials that can help prevent future harm. (If you work at a wildlife rescue centre and would like to speak to us about this work, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing us at research@naturewatch.org.)
- Calling for Government action and legislative change – At the heart of the campaign is the need for government intervention. Catapults are currently sold without restriction, despite their potential to cause significant harm. Naturewatch Foundation is calling for legislation that addresses this gap — including restrictions on sales to adults only. Public support will be crucial in urging policymakers to recognise the severity of the issue and to act decisively.
Naturewatch Foundation will ask the public to support this campaign by writing to their MPs, demanding action. Several MPs have already spoken out regarding the issue, and we aim to bring them and others together in coordinated political pressure. More details of how you can help will be released soon.
Together, these actions form a coordinated response to a growing and preventable problem. With the support of the public, Naturewatch Foundation believes we can turn the tide on catapult cruelty and protect our nation’s wildlife from unnecessary suffering.
Please consider joining our mailing list for up-to-date information on this campaign and learn about ways you can help us put an end to catapult cruelty.
Read more about controls on the use of crossbows on public safety grounds here.
*Naturewatch Foundation fully acknowledges that certain types of catapults and crossbows are used responsibly, and we recognise that many enthusiasts use this equipment safely and within the bounds of the law.
