Catapult Attacks on Wildlife Increasing Among Youth

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 26, 2026

Wildlife charities have reported a surge in teenagers using catapults to injure birds and other animals, often sharing videos of these acts on social media platforms like TikTok. In response, police and animal welfare groups launched Operation Lakeshot to combat this rising wildlife abuse, while calls grow for legal measures to restrict catapult sales and public carrying to minors.

Wildlife charities have raised concerns about an increase in the use of catapults or slingshots to harm animals, particularly among teenagers sharing videos of the acts on social media platforms like TikTok. The trend involves young individuals targeting birds such as pigeons, ducks, pheasants, and squirrels, with many animals suffering injuries that do not result in immediate death. Some footage shows animals struggling on the ground or drowning after being injured.

In response to the rise in such incidents, a joint initiative called Operation Lakeshot was launched in January. This effort, coordinated by police forces and animal welfare organizations, aims to address the illegal use of catapults on wildlife. According to the League Against Cruel Sports, the lead charity behind Operation Lakeshot, there have been 557 recorded cases of catapult attacks on animals so far this year.

Russ Middleton, head of intelligence at the League Against Cruel Sports, described the violence as “brutal wildlife crime” exacerbated by the circulation of disturbing imagery on social media. He cited examples including swans found with steel ball bearings lodged in their beaks and ducks with fractured jaws, illustrating the severity of the injuries inflicted.

The charity is urging the Home Office to introduce legal reforms, specifically calling for restrictions on the sale of catapults to individuals under 18 and proposing bans on carrying catapults in public without a valid reason.

TikTok, the platform where many of these videos have emerged, stated that it prohibits all forms of animal abuse content. The company reported removing 99.8 percent of such content before it was flagged by users during the period from April to June.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.